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directional

American  
[dih-rek-shuh-nl, dahy-] / dɪˈrɛk ʃə nl, daɪ- /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or indicating direction in space.

  2. Radio. adapted for determining the direction of signals received, or for transmitting signals in a given direction.

    a directional antenna.

  3. of, relating to, or providing guidance or leadership.

directional British  
/ dɪˈrɛkʃənəl, daɪ- /

adjective

  1. of or relating to a spatial direction

  2. electronics

    1. having or relating to an increased sensitivity to radio waves, sound waves, nuclear particles, etc, coming from a particular direction

    2. (of an aerial) transmitting or receiving radio waves more effectively in some directions than in others

  3. physics electronics

    1. concentrated in, following, or producing motion in a particular direction

    2. indicating direction

  4. indicating the direction something, such as a fashion trend, might take

    directional fashion looks
"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

Other Word Forms

  • directionality noun
  • directionally adverb
  • undirectional adjective

Etymology

Origin of directional

First recorded in 1605–15; direction + -al 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With specialized imaging tools, the team found that cells actively generate directional fluid flows, which they compare to atmospheric rivers.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

When the market’s directional trend is hijacked by forces that marginalize financial metrics like corporate earnings growth and profit margins, it’s more significant than merely investor sentiment souring.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

Also, LED lights "are a lot more directional, so you've got this much brighter, whiter light in a very directional point hitting your eye compared to the more diffuse halogen ones".

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

“This momentum appears relentless, and for us, the question is not the directional view but how long market participants can finance these gains,” it added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

We have no radio directional finder, just the compass.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.