direction

American  

[dih-rek-shuhn, dahy-] / dɪˈrɛk ʃən, ˈdaɪ- /

noun

1. the act or an instance of directing.

2. the line along which anything lies, faces, moves, etc., with reference to the point or region toward which it is directed.

   The storm moved in a northerly direction.

3. the point or region itself.

   The direction is north.

4. a position on a line extending from a specific point toward a point of the compass or toward the nadir or the zenith.

5. a line of thought or action or a tendency or inclination.

   the direction of contemporary thought.

6. Usually directions. instruction or guidance for making, using, etc..

   directions for baking a cake.

7. order; command.

8. management; control; guidance; supervision.

   a company under good direction.

9. a directorate.

10. the name and address of the intended recipient as written on a letter, package, etc.

11. decisions in a stage or film production as to stage business, speaking of lines, lighting, and general presentation.

12. the technique, act, or business of making such decisions, managing and training a cast of actors, etc.

13. the technique, act, or business of directing an orchestra, concert, or other musical presentation or group.

14. Music. a symbol or phrase that indicates in a score the proper tempo, style of performance, mood, etc.

15. a purpose or orientation toward a goal that serves to guide or motivate; focus.

    He doesn't seem to have any direction in life.

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direction British  

/ dɪˈrɛkʃən, daɪ- /

noun

1. the act of directing or the state of being directed

2. management, control, or guidance

3. the work of a stage or film director

4. the course or line along which a person or thing moves, points, or lies

5. the course along which a ship, aircraft, etc, is travelling, expressed as the angle between true or magnetic north and an imaginary line through the main fore-and-aft axis of the vessel

6. the place towards which a person or thing is directed

7. a line of action; course

8. the name and address on a letter, parcel, etc

9. music the process of conducting an orchestra, choir, etc

10. music an instruction in the form of a word or symbol heading or occurring in the body of a passage, movement, or piece to indicate tempo, dynamics, mood, etc

11. (modifier) maths

    1. (of an angle) being any one of the three angles that a line in space makes with the three positive directions of the coordinate axes. Usually given as α, β, and γ with respect to the x-, y-, and z- axes

    2. (of a cosine) being the cosine of any of the direction angles

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direction Idioms  

1. see step in the right direction.

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Related Words

See tendency.

Other Word Forms

• directionless adjective
• predirection noun
• self-direction noun
• superdirection noun

Etymology

Origin of direction

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English direccioun, from Middle French, from Latin dīrēctiōn-, stem of dīrēctiō “arranging in line, straightening”; equivalent to direct + -ion

Explanation

When you put something together, it's usually best to follow each direction — that is, each step in the instructions for how to do it — so that you put it together correctly. Or, you could just start putting it together, only to discover that you have extra pieces. The noun direction has several meanings. It can be an order given, as in, "Here are your directions: pick up your toys and make the bed!" Direction can also be something that points out a route as when you ask for directions to the lake. The course leading to a certain point is also a direction so you need to go in a southerly direction for ten miles, and then turn left at the giant chicken sign.

Example Sentences

“Looking ahead, gold’s direction will depend on the evolution of geopolitical negotiations,” the analyst adds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Bond yields and crude-oil prices haven’t been so quick to retrace their steps, although both have been moving in that direction.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

This idea offers a fresh direction for astrobiology, especially in cases where traditional biosignatures are unclear or unreliable.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Let’s look at three high profile names that will significantly determine the near term direction of the beaten down software space.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

They pushed and slipped, scrabbling in every direction.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• angle
• area
• aspect
• line
• objective
• orientation
• outlook
• path
• trend
• way