6 meanings
(click/touch triangles for details)
1 —as in:
depart directly
Definition
without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first- I walked directly to work.
directly = without interruption in the straightest or quickest possible manner
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- Let me get directly to the point.
- Can I get a direct flight to Los Angeles.
- Can I get a flight that goes directly to Los Angeles.
- As I was moving the bone some of the marrow must have escaped into his blood stream and gone directly to his heart and stopped it.John Knowles -- A Separate Peace
- I drove from the station directly to Gatsby's house and my rushing anxiously up the front steps was the first thing that alarmed any one.F. Scott Fitzgerald -- The Great Gatsby
- I drove directly to Nick's apartment.Tara Westover -- Educated
- You asked me to come directly to you, Professor, if anyone was wandering around at night, and somebody's been in the library Restricted Section.J.K. Rowling -- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- "Oh yes! certainly," cried Fanny, rising in haste, the haste of embarrassment and of wanting to get away—"I will write directly."Jane Austen -- Mansfield Park
- When he returned, he was to be brought directly to her.Louis Sachar -- Holes
directly = immediately
direct = without having to change planes
directly = without going somewhere else first
directly = immediately
directly = straight (without delay or interruption)
directly = immediately
directly = immediately
directly = immediately
directly = immediately
2 —as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
Definition
straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in betweenThe exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
- This flower does best in direct sunlight.
direct = without intervention from anything (in this case, not sun that is partially blocked or reflected)
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- Buy direct from the manufacturer.
- She reports directly to the president of the company.
- I would like to speak directly to the manager.
- As they walked back across the grass, she looked directly at him for the first time. It was only a momentary glance, full of contempt and dislike.George Orwell -- 1984
- DANFORTH: Now, then, Mister, will you speak slowly, and directly to the point, for Mr. Cheever's sake.Arthur Miller -- The Crucible
- I can't breathe. I can't— He stares me directly in the eyes.Stephanie Perkins -- Anna and the French Kiss
- Does it fly direct, or will it have to lay over in Minneapolis?Tara Westover -- Educated
- After purifying half a pot of water, I place it in direct sunlight and add several egg-size hot stones to the water.Suzanne Collins -- The Hunger Games
- She said these things to me, when Richard was present. She would not speak directly to him.Margaret Atwood -- The Blind Assassin
direct = without intervention from anyone else (in this case, without another company between the manufacturer and the buyer)
directly = without intervention from anyone (In this case, she doesn't report to someone else who reports to the president. She reports to the president personally.)
directly = personally (without other people in between)
directly = straight (focusing where stated rather than including it as part of a larger focus)
directly = straight (focusing where stated rather than getting off topic)
directly = straight (focusing where stated rather than including it as part of a larger focus; or a careful look rather than a quick glance)
direct = without any stops in between
direct = without anything in between
directly = personally (person-to-person)
3 —as in:
was direct in my instructions
Definition
straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)- I left them with direct instructions.
direct = straightforward
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- She is easy to work with. She is direct in her communications and expectations.
- Did she say that directly or just imply it.
- "I don't have much time, so I'm going to be direct," he says.Veronica Roth -- Insurgent
- "When they find me, what are they going to do?"
...
The twins answered his question indirectly. "You got to go now, Ralph. For your own good."William Golding -- Lord of the Flies - He is steeped in sorrow, exhausted, and more direct than he ever was.Arthur Miller -- The Crucible
- No, there were three things, and they did not directly concern us—the Finches—but in a way they did.Harper Lee -- To Kill a Mockingbird
- I know she has extreme views at times, and she does tend to express herself in a direct manner.Margaret Atwood -- The Blind Assassin
- The italics used on this page indicate that the language from the referenced email is paraphrased, not directly quoted.Tara Westover -- Educated
- I'm not sure about Foxface since direct confrontation isn't her style or her forte.Suzanne Collins -- The Hunger Games
direct = straightforward (clear and unambiguous)
directly = in a straightforward manner (clean and explicit)
direct = straightforward (specific and to the point)
indirectly = without specifically responding to the question
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
direct = straightforward (specific and to the point)
directly = in a straightforward manner (an uncomplicated manner before including secondary effects)
direct = straightforward (open and honest even if it makes someone uncomfortable)
directly = in a straightforward word-for-word manner
direct = straightforward (clear and uncomplicated)
4 —as in:
directed her question to
Definition
to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an objectThe exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
- The sprinkler head needs to be fixed so it directs water away from the house.
directs = aims
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- Please direct your question to the appropriate department by selecting one from this list.
- Please don't direct your anger toward me.
- Please direct your attention to the north end zone.
- All the cameras were pointed directly at her.
- The beam of the flashlight was directed away from Stanley's eyes and onto Zero, who was sitting on his knees.Louis Sachar -- Holes
- His voice was a little hard to hear when it was directed at the carpet.Kiera Cass -- The Selection
- Percy directed the girls through one door to their dormitory and the boys through another.J.K. Rowling -- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- An usher is about to direct us to some seats, but this lady with natural twists gestures toward the front row of the friends' side, right in front of her.Angie Thomas -- The Hate U Give
- There would be an announcement like that quite soon, he felt certain, and it would be directed mainly at Lily, though her name, of course, would not be mentioned.Lois Lowry -- The Giver
direct = aim or send
direct = aim or focus
direct = aim or focus
directly = aiming straight
directed = pointed or focused
directed = pointed or aimed
directed = sent
direct = guide or point
directed = aimed (intended for)
5 —as in:
directed the jury to...
Definition
give instructions or commands- On the SAT test, some questions direct you to look at an underlined or numbered portion of a passage.
direct = instruct
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- The judge directed the jury to ignore the question.
- She directed them to take their seats.
- The sign directed us to turn to the right.
- I would need to direct her explicitly to bring Nobu to the old theater; they wouldn't come upon us there purely by accident.Arthur Golden -- Memoirs of a Geisha
- Upon reaching New Bedford, we were directed to the house of Mr. Nathan Johnson,Frederick Douglass -- The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
- "Put your hands on me," he directed, aware that in such anguish The Giver might need reminding.Lois Lowry -- The Giver
- This was exactly like Muggle chess except that the figures were alive, which made it a lot like directing troops in battle.J.K. Rowling -- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- I went to bed as usual, taking care that the flowers were placed as Dr. Van Helsing directed, and soon fell asleep.Bram Stoker -- Dracula
- Before she could say anything, teams of people came to work on us, directing one another so loudly there was no way for us to finish talking.Kiera Cass -- The Selection
directed = instructed (gave an instruction or command)
directed = instructed (gave an instruction or command)
directed = gave an instruction
direct = instruct
directed = given directions
directed = instructed
directing = commanding
directed = instructed
directing = instructing
6 —as in:
directed the movie
Definition
supervise, control, or to be in charge of- She directed the move.
directed = supervised the making of
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- She directs our organization.
- She is the organization's director.
- Will you direct the effort.
- Even Napoleon, who was directing operations from the rear, had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet.George Orwell -- Animal Farm
- I'd come to BYU to study music, so that one day I could direct a church choir.Tara Westover -- Educated
- She's named after my favorite director, Sofia Coppola.Stephanie Perkins -- Anna and the French Kiss
- Almost the last thing I remember was standing with Daisy and watching the moving-picture director and his Star.F. Scott Fitzgerald -- The Great Gatsby
- We have given you the Assignment of Assistant Director of Recreation.Lois Lowry -- The Giver
- Far down the fields toward the river there was a wooden tower about ten feet high where the instructor had stood to direct the senior calisthenics.John Knowles -- A Separate Peace
directs = is in charge of
director = someone in charge of an organization or project
direct = be in charge of
directing = supervising
direct = supervise (be in charge of)
director = person in charge of making a film
director = person in charge of making a film
director = supervisor (person in charge)
direct = supervise (be in charge of)
Less commonly:
Direct can take on many specialized meanings not included in this dictionary.
As an adjective or adverb, most all senses of direct involve an uninterrupted connection and/or clarity (clear, unambiguous communication) as in:
As a verb, most all of the senses of direct involve giving orders or aiming.
- direct action
- direct descendant
- direct line (with regard to genealogy)
- direct deposit
- direct object
- direct kick
- direct cost
- direct investment
- direct elections
- direct current
As a verb, most all of the senses of direct involve giving orders or aiming.