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Direly: meaning, definitions and examples

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direly

 

[ ˈdaɪərli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

urgency

The term 'direly' is used to emphasize a sense of extreme urgency or desperation. It often describes situations where immediate action is necessary, and the consequences of inaction could be severe. When something is indicated as being needed direly, it reflects a critical state that cannot be ignored. This word is frequently used in discussions involving emergencies, crises, or dire warnings.

Synonyms

critically, desperately, urgently

Examples of usage

  • She needed help direly after the accident.
  • The community was direly affected by the flood.
  • He direly requested a solution to the problem.

Translations

Translations of the word "direly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 diretamente

🇮🇳 सीधे

🇩🇪 direkt

🇮🇩 langsung

🇺🇦 безпосередньо

🇵🇱 bezpośrednio

🇯🇵 直接に

🇫🇷 directement

🇪🇸 directamente

🇹🇷 doğrudan

🇰🇷 직접적으로

🇸🇦 مباشرة

🇨🇿 přímo

🇸🇰 priamo

🇨🇳 直接地

🇸🇮 neposredno

🇮🇸 beint

🇰🇿 тікелей

🇬🇪 გადაწყვეტილი

🇦🇿 birbaşa

🇲🇽 directamente

Word origin

The word 'direly' originates from the adjective 'dire', which comes from the Latin 'dirus', meaning dreadful or fearsome. The usage of 'dire' in English dates back to the 14th century, where it was used to convey a sense of terror or warning. As the English language evolved, the adverbial form 'direly' emerged to articulate actions or states that are marked by the severity of their circumstances. Over the centuries, the notion of something being 'dire' has maintained connotations of critical urgency, often appearing in literary and formal contexts to describe dire predictions, warnings, and the necessity for immediate intervention. Today, 'direly' is often employed in both spoken and written English, particularly in discussions about emergencies or dire conditions.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,329, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.