Sample Sentences for
direct
grouped by contextual meaning
(editor-reviewed)

direct as in:  directly above; or buy direct

Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • •
    Buy direct from the manufacturer.
    direct = without intervention from anyone else (in this case, without another company between the manufacturer and the buyer)
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    It felt good to sit inside the truck, out of the direct rays of the sun.  (source)
    direct = unobstructed (with nothing in between)
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    Cause my information come direct from Miz Claire Thompson who seen Mr. Tatum herself.  (source)
    direct = straight (without anything in between)
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Show 10 more with 4 word variations
  • •
    "This is the time," she began, looking directly at them, when we acknowledge differences.  (source)
    directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
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    "The other way is direct visual," he said.  (source)
    direct = without anything in between
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    Instead they had maintained indirect control in the same way the British had, relying on the Pashtun-recruited Frontier Corps rather than regular soldiers.  (source)
    indirect = with the involvement of other people
    standard prefix: The prefix "in-" in indirect means not and reverses the meaning of direct. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
  • •
    They're going to type a letter to a store owner in southern Zeeland who is, indirectly, one of Opekta's customers and ask him to fill out a form and send it back in the enclosed self-addressed envelope.  (source)
    indirectly = with a third party in between
    standard prefix: 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.
  • •
    I still really hadn't looked at any of them yet, not directly.  (source)
    directly = in a straight, steady, or focused manner--not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
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    The Emerald Tablet is a direct passage to the Soul of the World.  (source)
    direct = straight or quick
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    Therefore this story, the story of a small dark man with a womanish voice dressed in Wagon Lit uniform, rests on the testimony, direct or indirect, of four witnesses.  (source)
    indirect = with the involvement of other people (repeated rather than heard first hand)
  • •
    I know she didn't know it at the time, but the fact that Karen took me away from my father only led to what happened to Lesslie. It's hard to ignore that Karen's taking me indirectly led to what happened to my best friend—to the only other girl in Holder's life whom he feels he let down.  (source)
    indirectly = not straight; or done in a way that involves other people or things
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    As soon as I saw they'd arrived at their destination, I turned around and came directly back.  (source)
    directly = immediately
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    Too bad you don't really know it so you can give it to me direct, Charles.  (source)
    direct = without anything in between
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direct as in:  gave a direct answer

•
I left them with direct instructions.
direct = straightforward
Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • •
    She is easy to work with. She is direct in her communications and expectations.
    direct = straightforward (clear and unambiguous)
  • •
    Did she say that directly or just imply it.
    directly = in a straightforward manner (clean and explicit)
  • •
    I'm not sure about Foxface since direct confrontation isn't her style or her forte.  (source)
    direct = straightforward (clear and uncomplicated)
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Show 10 more with 6 word variations
  • •
    And I don't know if everyone's still playing the Plague behind his back, because no one ever really told me about it directly, but my point is that it's not like he has a whole lot of other friends he could be hanging out with instead of me.  (source)
    directly = in a straightforward manner
  • •
    She had a large, direct voice. No time to waste. "Komm," she instructed them.  (source)
    direct = clear
  • •
    He paused, then he added: Indirectly it came from Anne.  (source)
    Indirectly = in a complicated, non-obvious manner
    standard prefix: 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.
  • •
    His methods were indirect and labyrinthine, but they brought him twice the profit of simpler business arrangements.  (source)
    indirect = not straightforward (complex or devious)
    standard prefix: The prefix "in-" in indirect means not and reverses the meaning of direct. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
  • •
    But Hammond had approached Wu with a directness Wu never forgot.  (source)
    directness = the quality of being straightforward or clear (without adjusting what is said to spare others' feelings)
    standard suffix: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.
  • •
    Against girls and their indirectness, their whisperings, he would be helpless.†  (source)
    standard prefix: The prefix "in-" in indirectness means not and reverses the meaning of directness. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
  • •
    The foolbird sat still for him and he did not look directly at it until he drew the second arrow and aimed and released and missed again.  (source)
    directly = in a straightforward manner (clearly without any ambiguity)
  • •
    There's grumbling, but no direct defiance.  (source)
    direct = clear, or straightforward
  • •
    Today two more families would be in mourning in the town of Guadalupe, and indirectly the far-off war of the Japanese and the Germans had come to claim two victims in New Mexico.  (source)
    indirectly = in a complicated, non-obvious manner
  • •
    Nor did she admit that all other plans, all other ways, she regarded as menaces, more or less indirect, to that security of place and substance which she insisted upon for her sons and in a lesser degree for herself.†  (source)
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direct as in: direct a question; or direct a film

Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • •
    The judge directed the jury to ignore the question.
    directed = instructed (gave an instruction or command)
  • •
    Will you direct the effort.
    direct = be in charge of
  • •
    She is the organization's director.
    director = supervisor (person in charge)
    standard suffix: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who."  This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.
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Show 10 more with 10 word variations
  • •
    The sign directed us to turn to the right.
    directed = instructed (gave an instruction)
  • •
    The sprinkler head needs to be fixed so it will direct water away from the house.
    direct = aim
  • •
    The director signaled for everyone to settle down.  (source)
    director = person in charge
    standard suffix: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who."  This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.
  • •
    "All right," Papa said, directing us toward the church.  (source)
    directing = guiding
  • •
    He was going to say "future World controllers," but correcting himself, said "future Directors of Hatcheries," instead.  (source)
    Directors = supervisors (people in charge)
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    He directs his gaze at a patch of sand between his feet as he makes this declaration; then he stops talking.  (source)
    directs = aims or focuses
  • •
    One of these had been on the Board of Directors for Stovington Preparatory Academy, the old man's favorite charity.  (source)
    Board of Directors = members of a board that oversees the affairs of a corporation or other institution
  • •
    A little misdirected, maybe, but hey, the grammar was good, the writing concise.†  (source)
    standard prefix: The prefix "mis-" in misdirected means wrong and reverses the meaning of directed. This is the same pattern you see in words like misunderstand, misbehave, and misuse.
  • •
    We had been an idiosyncratic, leaderless band in the summer, undirected except by the eccentric notions of Phineas.  (source)
    undirected = without focus
    standard prefix: The prefix "un-" in undirected means not and reverses the meaning of directed. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
  • •
    16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.†  (source)
    standard suffix: Today, the suffix "-eth" is replaced by "-s", so that where they said "She directeth" in older English, today we say "She directs."
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meaning too rare to warrant focus

Show 3 with this contextual meaning
  • •
    Once the case was on direct appeal, no new evidence would be considered.  (source)
    direct = immediate and standard
  • •
    Because the case was now pending on direct appeal, the State had no obligation to let us see those records and files.  (source)
  • •
    Surprisingly, the Alabama Supreme Court agreed to stay our direct appeal process so that the Rule 32 petition could proceed.  (source)
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Show 3 more
  • •
    The general rule was that the direct appeal had to be completed before a postconviction collateral appeal under Rule 32 could be initiated.  (source)
    direct = immediate and standard
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    On re-direct examination, I asked Ralph to acknowledge once again that his trial testimony was false and that he had knowingly put an innocent man on death row.  (source)
    direct = questioning again after someone else has questioned a witness
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    I had done the direct examination of all of the witnesses and was surprised when I realized that it was already 5:00 P.M.  (source)
    direct = immediate (by the party who called the witness)
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