directly vs now

directly

adv
  • Soon; next; in due time; as soon as it becomes convenient. 

  • Plainly, without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms. 

  • Straightforwardly; honestly. 

  • In a direct manner; in a straight line or course. 

  • In a straightforward way; without anything intervening; not by secondary but by direct means. 

  • Exactly; just; at the shortest possible distance. 

conj
  • As soon as; immediately (elliptical for directly that/as/when) 

now

adv
  • At the present time. 

  • Used to indicate a context of urgency. 

  • Sometimes; occasionally. 

  • Used to address a switching side, or sharp change in attitude from before. (In this usage, now is usually emphasized). 

  • Used to introduce a point, a qualification of what has previously been said, a remonstration or a rebuke. 

  • At the time reached within a narration. 

  • Differently from the immediate past; differently from a more remote past or a possible future; differently from all other times. 

conj
  • Since, because, in light of the fact; often with that. 

noun
  • The state of not paying attention to the future or the past. 

  • The present time. 

  • A particular instant in time, as perceived at that instant. 

intj
  • Indicates a signal to begin. 

adj
  • Fashionable; popular; up to date; current. 

  • Present; current. 

How often have the words directly and now occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )