4 meanings, 8 uses
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1 —3 uses as in:
depart directly
Definition
without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first
- The gray cat came out of the barn shed and trotted miaowing toward the fire, but, nearly there, it turned and went directly to one of the little piles of rabbit entrails on the ground.Chapter 6 (50% in)
directly = straight (immediately—without going anywhere else first)
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- They went directly to the mud puddle under the hose and dug their toes into the mud.Chapter 15 (64% in)
- He went directly to the Dodge and crawled under on his back.Chapter 16 (67% in)
directly = straight (without delay or interruption)
directly = straight (without delay or interruption)
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in The Grapes of Wrath.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
2 —1 use as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
Definition
straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The 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
- The kettle rattled over the direct fire, rattled and wheezed.Chapter 26 (83% in)
direct = without anything in between
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in The Grapes of Wrath.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
3 —3 uses as in:
directed her question to
Definition
to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The 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 land fell into fewer hands, the number of the dispossessed increased, and every effort of the great owners was directed at repression.Chapter 19 (88% in)
directed = focused
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- Her whole thought and action were directed inward on the baby.Chapter 10 (23% in)
- Al crawled under on his belly and directed the beam of the flashlight.Chapter 16 (67% in)
directed = focused
directed = aimed
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in The Grapes of Wrath.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
4 —1 use as in:
directed the movie
Definition
supervise, control, or to be in charge of
- There's a board of directors.Chapter 5 (92% in)
board of directors = members of a board that oversees the affairs of a corporation or other institution
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in The Grapes of Wrath.
Typical Usage
(best examples)