# directly

> English word · Adverb · IPA /dɪˈɹɛk(t).li/ · frequency rank #1,330

## Definitions
1. In a direct manner; in a straight line or course.
2. In a straightforward way; without anything intervening; not by secondary but by direct means.
3. Plainly, without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms.
4. Exactly; just; at the shortest possible distance.
5. Straightforwardly; honestly.
6. Immediately.
7. Soon; next; in due time; as soon as it becomes convenient.

## Etymology
From direct + -ly.

## Easily confused with
- **director** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/directly-vs-director)
- **directory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/directly-vs-directory)
- **direct** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/direct-vs-directly)
- **directed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/directed-vs-directly)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ddirectly`, `dierctly`, `dircetly`, `direcctly`, `direclty`, `directlly`, `directlyy`, `directtly`, `directyl`, `diretcly`, `dirrectly`, `driectly`, `idrectly`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/directly