directly
/dəˈrektli/ (bre, ipa) · /dəˈrektli/ (ame, ipa) · /də-ˈrek(t)-lē dī- in sense 2 especially də-ˈrek-lē or ˈdrek-lē/ (ame, mw) · /daɪˈrekt.li/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈrekt.li/ (ame, ipa)
directly — adverb
1. happening with no other person, thing, or step coming between — for example, goi
happening with no other person, thing, or step coming between — for example, going from one place to another without stopping, or dealing with someone rather than through another person.
Ayana sent the application directly to the university admissions office.
directly to [person/place] — no intermediary
We flew directly from Taipei to San Francisco without any stopovers.
travel route: directly from [place A] to [place B]
The sunlight poured directly through the kitchen window and warmed the floor.
Christopher deals directly with the property owner instead of going through an agent.
- straight
more informal; used mainly for physical movement ('go straight home')
- immediately
can overlap but focuses on time rather than the absence of intermediaries
- indirectly
through an intermediary or by a roundabout route
- through
as in 'through an agent' or 'via someone else'
文法句型
directly + [preposition]
directly + [past participle]
用法筆記
This is the most common sense of 'directly'. It works with verbs of movement (go, come, fly), communication (speak, send, report), and physical placement.
常見錯誤
2. saying what you think in an open, truthful way, without trying to soften your wo
saying what you think in an open, truthful way, without trying to soften your words — even if what you say might upset someone.
Indra asked her manager directly whether she would receive a pay raise.
ask + directly + [reported question]
The nurse told Heather directly that the test results showed nothing serious.
tell + directly + [that-clause]
Arjun spoke directly about his disappointment with the team's performance.
Wren addressed the complaint directly instead of avoiding the topic.
- indirectly
hinting or implying rather than stating plainly
- evasively
avoiding giving a direct answer
文法句型
speak/tell/ask + directly + [about something]
directly + [clause] (as a sentence adverb)
用法筆記
Often used for giving opinions or unpleasant feedback. It suggests courage rather than rudeness — the speaker is being honest, not harsh.
常見錯誤
3. without any wait or pause; at once — used when one action happens in the same in
without any wait or pause; at once — used when one action happens in the same instant as something else or without a gap.
When the fire alarm went off, everyone left the building directly.
action without delay: [event] + directly
Lukas called the emergency services directly after he saw the car crash.
temporal sequence: directly after [noun phrase]
Tamar responded to the email directly within just a few seconds.
The painkiller worked directly, and her headache faded within moments.
- immediately
identical in meaning; more common in both BrE and AmE
- instantly
stresses an even shorter gap — the action happens in an instant
- right away
informal, common in spoken English
- eventually
suggests a delay or a longer gap
- later
at some point after, not immediately
文法句型
directly + [past simple verb] (past action)
directly + after + [clause]
常見錯誤
4. after a very short amount of time; in the near future — often used to say that s
after a very short amount of time; in the near future — often used to say that something is about to happen.
The train will arrive directly, so please stand behind the yellow line.
future event: will + [verb] + directly
Wei promised to join us directly after finishing his phone call.
temporal sequence: directly after [gerund]
The doctor will see you directly — just take a seat in the waiting room.
Mateo told us the bus would be here directly, so we waited by the stop.
- shortly
common in both British and American English; less ambiguous
- presently
more formal and slightly dated
- in a moment
colloquial phrase, especially in British English
- much later
the opposite of 'very soon'
- eventually
implies a longer, uncertain wait
文法句型
directly + [verb] (future event)
directly + after/before + [noun]
用法筆記
This sense is most common in British English. In American English, 'directly' is rarely used to mean 'soon' — speakers prefer 'shortly' or 'in a moment'.
常見錯誤
directly — conjunction
1. used to say that one event happens at the exact moment another event finishes, w
used to say that one event happens at the exact moment another event finishes, with no time in between — joining two actions that follow one another immediately.
Directly the performance ended, the audience rose to their feet and applauded.
directly + [past simple clause], [main clause]
Aarav called his grandmother directly he reached the hotel room.
Directly the sun went down, the temperature began to drop sharply.
Mei turned on the television directly she walked through the front door.
- as soon as
more common across all varieties of English; neutral register
- immediately after
a phrase rather than a single conjunction, but similar in meaning
- long after
indicates a significant gap between events
文法句型
Directly + [clause A], [clause B]
用法筆記
Primarily British English and somewhat formal. In everyday speech, 'as soon as' or 'immediately after' are more common alternatives. The conjunction 'directly' does not require 'that' after it — 'Directly he arrived' is correct, not 'Directly that he arrived'.
常見錯誤
2. used to connect two events where the first event triggers the second, with both
used to connect two events where the first event triggers the second, with both happening almost at the same time — often describing a reaction or a direct cause.
Directly the dog heard the doorbell, it started barking loudly.
cause-effect: directly + [sensory event], [reaction]
The children cheered directly the teacher announced a field trip to the zoo.
Zayd began to cry directly he saw the surprise party his friends had arranged.
The baby smiled directly she heard her mother's voice from the other room.
- the moment
very similar in meaning; more common in both BrE and AmE
- as soon as
neutral and widely used across registers
文法句型
Directly + [clause A], [clause B]
用法筆記
This sense is considered slightly dated in modern British English. It is less common than sense 1 and is rarely heard in American English. 'The moment (that)' or 'as soon as' are more natural alternatives in current speech.