direct

[ dih-rekt, dahy- ]

/ dɪˈrɛkt, daɪ- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR direct ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to manage or guide by advice, helpful information, instruction, etc.: He directed the company through a difficult time.

to regulate the course of; control: History is directed by a small number of great men and women.

to administer; manage; supervise: She directs the affairs of the estate.

to give authoritative instructions to; command; order or ordain: I directed him to leave the room.

to serve as a director in the production or performance of (a musical work, play, motion picture, etc.).

to guide, tell, or show (a person) the way to a place: I directed him to the post office.

to point, aim, or send toward a place or object: to direct radio waves around the globe.

to channel or focus toward a given result, object, or end (often followed by to or toward): She directed all her energies toward the accomplishment of the work.

to address (words, a speech, a written report, etc.) to a person or persons: The secretary directed his remarks to two of the committee members.

to address (a letter, package, etc.) to an intended recipient.

verb (used without object)

to act as a guide.

to give commands or orders.

to serve as the director of a play, film, orchestra, etc.

adjective

proceeding in a straight line or by the shortest course; straight; undeviating; not oblique: a direct route.

proceeding in an unbroken line of descent; lineal rather than collateral: a direct descendant.

Mathematics.

(of a proportion) containing terms of which an increase (or decrease) in one results in an increase (or decrease) in another: a term is said to be in direct proportion to another term if one increases (or decreases) as the other increases (or decreases).
(of a function) the function itself, in contrast to its inverse.Compare inverse(def 2).

without intervening persons, influences, factors, etc.; immediate; personal: direct contact with the voters; direct exposure to a disease.

straightforward; frank; candid: the direct remarks of a forthright individual.

absolute; exact: the direct opposite.

consisting exactly of the words originally used; verbatim: direct quotation.

Government. of or by action of voters, which takes effect without representatives or another intervening agency, as in direct democracy.

inevitable; consequential: War will be a direct result of such political action.

allocated for or arising from a particular known agency, process, job, etc.: The new machine was listed by the accountant as a direct cost.

Electricity. of or relating to direct current.

Astronomy.

moving in an orbit in the same direction as the earth in its revolution around the sun.
appearing to move on the celestial sphere in the direction of the natural order of the signs of the zodiac, from west to east.Compare retrograde(def 4).

Surveying. (of a telescope) in its normal position; not inverted or transited.

(of dye colors) working without the use of a mordant; substantive.

adverb

in a direct manner; directly; straight: Answer me direct.

QUIZZES

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Have you mastered the meaning of phronesis? How about plethoric? Take the quiz on the words from the week of February 17 to 23 to find out.

Question 1 of 7

Lincolnesque

without interest or significance; dull; insipid.

like or characteristic of Abraham Lincoln.

very high or tall; lofty.

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Words nearby direct

dirae, dirdum, dire, dire wolf, direc. prop., direct, direct access, direct action, direct address, direct broadcast satellite, direct characterization

Origin of direct

1325–75; Middle English direct (adj., adv.), directen (v.) (< Anglo-French) < Latin dīrēctus, dērēctus (the latter probably the orig. form, later reanalyzed as dī- di-²), past participle of dērigere to align, straighten, guide (dē- de- + -rigere, combining form of regere to guide, rule)

SYNONYMS FOR direct

18 open, sincere, outspoken.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR direct ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM direct

di·rect·a·ble, adjectivedi·rect·ness, nounpre·di·rect, verb (used with object)self-di·rect·ing, adjective

sem·i·di·rect, adjectivesem·i·di·rect·ness, noun

synonym study for direct

1. See guide. 4. Direct, order, command mean to issue instructions. Direct suggests also giving explanations or advice; the emphasis is not on the authority of the director, but on steps necessary for the accomplishing of a purpose. Order connotes a personal relationship in which one in a superior position imperatively instructs a subordinate to do something. Command, less personal and, often, less specific in detail, suggests greater formality and, sometimes, a more fixed authority on the part of the superior.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for directing

“Playing Asteroids is a little like directing a television show,” Fisher has told me.
‘Asteroids’ & The Dawn of the Gamer Age|David Owen|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When we did The Office, I was just so happy that we were writing something, directing something, and getting it made.
Stephen Merchant Talks ‘Hello Ladies’ movie, the Nicole Kidman Cameo, and Legacy of ‘The Office’|Marlow Stern|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What were the biggest hiccups while directing your first feature?
Jon Stewart Talks ‘Rosewater’ and the ‘Chickensh-t’ Democrats’ Midterm Massacre|Marlow Stern|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By 2010, Hunter was directing a well received revival of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts at Access Theatre on Broadway.
Meet the Future Mrs. Benedict Cumberbatch|Tom Sykes|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I found, much to my surprise, that writing a novel was much more like directing.
David Cronenberg: Why Frustrated Novelists Hate the Screenplay|Craig Hubert|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Government 077is that power which one part of speech has over another, in directing its mood, tense, or case.
The Comic English Grammar|Percival Leigh
Here Carlos rode to the front, and, directing Antonio to guide the others straight across the table-land, remained himself behind.
The White Chief|Mayne Reid
He was everywhere to be found, encouraging, directing, animating.
A Week at Waterloo in 1815|Magdalene De Lancey
Quannah was directing everything while he stood near his tepee, a short distance from Songbird and Star.
Star|Forrestine C. Hooker
He at the same time handed to the musician a collection of legends, directing his attention in particular to Apel's Freischtz.
History of the Opera from its Origin in Italy to the present Time|Henry Sutherland Edwards

British Dictionary definitions for directing

direct

/ (dɪˈrɛkt, daɪ-) /

verb (mainly tr)

to regulate, conduct, or control the affairs of

(also intr) to give commands or orders with authority to (a person or group)he directed them to go away

to tell or show (someone) the way to a place

to aim, point, or cause to move towards a goal

to address (a letter, parcel, etc)

to address (remarks, words, etc)to direct comments at someone

(also intr) to provide guidance to (actors, cameramen, etc) in the rehearsal of a play or the filming of a motion picture

(also intr)

to conduct (a piece of music or musicians), usually while performing oneself
another word (esp US) for conduct (def. 9)

adjective

without delay or evasion; straightforwarda direct approach

without turning aside; uninterrupted; shortest; straighta direct route

without intervening persons or agencies; immediatea direct link

honest; frank; candida direct answer

(usually prenominal) precise; exacta direct quotation

diametricalthe direct opposite

in an unbroken line of descent, as from father to son over succeeding generationsa direct descendant

(of government, decisions, etc) by or from the electorate rather than through representatives

logic maths (of a proof) progressing from the premises to the conclusion, rather than eliminating the possibility of the falsehood of the conclusionCompare indirect proof

astronomy moving from west to east on the celestial sphereCompare retrograde (def. 4a)

of or relating to direct current
(of a secondary induced current) having the same direction as the primary current

music

(of motion) in the same directionSee motion (def. 9)
(of an interval or chord) in root position; not inverted

adverb

directly; straighthe went direct to the office

Derived forms of direct

directness, noun

Word Origin for direct

C14: from Latin dīrectus; from dīrigere to guide, from dis- apart + regere to rule

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

direct

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adjective

adverb

QUIZZES

Words related to direct

Words nearby direct

Origin of direct

SYNONYMS FOR direct

OTHER WORDS FROM direct

synonym study for direct

Example sentences from the Web for directing

British Dictionary definitions for directing

verb (mainly tr)

adjective

adverb

Derived forms of direct

Word Origin for direct