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directly

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directly
I
directly1 S2 W2 /dəˈrektli, dɪˈrektli, daɪ-/ adverb
 Word Family: noun: direction, directness, director; verb: direct, redirect; adverb: directlyindirectly; adjective: directindirect
1. with no other person, action, process etc between
   OPP  indirectly:
    The new property tax law won’t directly affect us.
    We hope to bring together the countries directly involved in the conflict.
    directly to/from
    Application for admission to this course should be made directly to the University.
2. exactly in a particular position or direction
   SYN  right
    directly in front of/behind/under etc something
    It was a small house, directly behind the church.
    The girl was sitting directly opposite him.
    Have you noticed how he never looks directly at you?
3. speak/ask/answer etc directly to say exactly what you mean without trying to hide anything:
    Jeff has a job in mind, but refuses to say directly what it is.
4. British English old-fashioned very soon:
    He should be here directly, if you don’t mind waiting.
5. British English old-fashioned immediately
     
THESAURUS
    exactly used when emphasizing that something is no more and no less than a number or amount, or is completely correct in every detail: The bill came to exactly $1,000. | Police are still trying to find out exactly how the accident happened.
    precisely exactly – used when it is important to be sure that something is completely correct in every detail: We need to know precisely how much this is going to cost. | Can you tell us precisely where he is? | What precisely do you mean by ‘relativity’?
    just especially spoken exactly – used especially when saying that things are exactly right, exactly the same, or exactly in a particular position: The frame is just the right size for the picture. | He and his brother are just the same. | The hotel is just next to the station. | A new handbag! That’s just what I wanted.
    right exactly in a particular position or direction: The ball hit me right in the eye! | There’s the house, right in front of you. | I got a mosquito bite right on the end of my nose. | He sat down right beside her.
    directly exactly in a particular position or direction Directly is more formal than right: Amy was sitting directly opposite me.
    on the dot informal at exactly a particular time, and no earlier or later than that time: She always leaves the office at 5.30 p.m. on the dot.
    bang British English informal exactly – used especially in the following very informal expressions: The train was bang on time. | The shot was bang on target. | Cockatoo Island is right bang in the middle of Sydney harbour.

II
directly2 conjunction British English old-fashioned
as soon as:
    I came directly I got your message.