directly
di‧rect‧ly1 S2 W2 /dəˈrektli, dɪˈrektli, daɪ-/
adverb
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
▪ 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.
directly2
conjunction British English old-fashioned
as soon as:
I came directly I got your message.
| I |
adverb Word Family: noun: direction, directness, director; verb: direct, redirect; adverb: directly ≠ indirectly; adjective: direct ≠ indirect
1. with no other person, action, process etc between OPP indirectly:
directly to/from
2. exactly in a particular position or direction
SYN right
directly in front of/behind/under etc something
3. speak/ask/answer etc directly to say exactly what you mean without trying to hide anything:
4. British English old-fashioned very soon:
5. British English old-fashioned immediately
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| II |
conjunction British English old-fashionedas soon as: