to assist (a person) to travel through, or reach a destination in, an unfamiliar area, as by accompanying or giving directions to the person.
He guided us through the forest.
to accompany (a sightseer) to show points of interest and to explain their meaning or significance.
to force (a person, object, or animal) to move in a certain path.
to supply (a person) with advice or counsel, as in practical or spiritual affairs.
to supervise (someone's actions or affairs) in an advisory capacity.
a person who guides, especially one hired to guide travelers, tourists, hunters, etc.
a mark, tab, or the like, to catch the eye and thus provide quick reference.
a guidebook.
a book, pamphlet, etc., giving information, instructions, or advice; handbook.
an investment guide.
a guidepost.
a device that regulates or directs progressive motion or action.
a sewing-machine guide.
a spirit believed to direct the utterances of a medium.
Military. a member of a group marching in formation who sets the pattern of movement or alignment for the rest.
to lead the way for (a person)
to control the movement or course of (an animal, vehicle, etc) by physical action; steer
to supervise or instruct (a person)
(tr) to direct the affairs of (a person, company, nation, etc)
he guided the country through the war
(tr) to advise or influence (a person) in his standards or opinions
let truth guide you always
a person, animal, or thing that guides
( as modifier )
a guide dog
a person, usually paid, who conducts tour expeditions, etc
a model or criterion, as in moral standards or accuracy
See guidebook
a book that instructs or explains the fundamentals of a subject or skill
a guide to better living
any device that directs the motion of a tool or machine part
a mark, sign, etc, that points the way
( in combination )
guidepost
spiritualism a spirit believed to influence a medium so as to direct what he utters and convey messages through him
navy a ship in a formation used as a reference for manoeuvres, esp with relation to maintaining the correct formation and disposition
military a soldier stationed to one side of a column or line to regulate alignment, show the way, etc
What are other ways to say guide?
To guide someone is to assist them in traveling through or in reaching a destination by accompanying them or giving them directions. How does guide compare to synonyms conduct, direct, and lead? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English giden (verb), gide (noun), from Old French gui(d)er (verb), gui(d)e (noun), from Germanic; akin to wit 2 ( def. )
A guide is someone who shows you the way. You'd be lucky to have a kind older sibling to act as your guide through middle school, giving you advice and helping you figure out the school and social scenes. A guide often leads tourists through a city, taking them to important sites, or assists a group of mountain climbers. Another kind of guide is a book of helpful instructions about what to see in a particular country, how to get along with your teenager, or the best way to grow orchids. When you guide people, you help them find their way, whether it's through the New York subway system or through the steps of building a campfire.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He told ProPublica that he wants to transform lives and guide students to college, trade school or the military.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
Duhamel added that he was inspired by the “Patriots” survival guide and confessed that he worried about the delicate nature of a society so tech-dependent.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Armed with this and a field guide in her home of San Francisco, she set about identifying birds from an early age.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The drones make a grueling job a little bit easier by delivering a hot breakfast in minutes to Sherpa climbers who set out in the middle of the night with just headlamps to guide them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
I can’t help smiling as we start to guide the boat back along the jetty towards the shore.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
The study was performed in accordance with the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
Guest: Cory Doctorow, sci-fi author, journalist, blogger and author of “The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI.”
From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2026
That’s one of many arguments in Cory Doctorow’s new book, “The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI,” which provides a succinct blueprint for how to think differently about our new normal.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
Dame Prue Leith has recounted the time she called the editor of the Michelin Guide to demand an answer to why her restaurant hadn't received a star.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
She laid a hand on her purse and felt the familiar outline of the Hixby’s Guide within.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
“We are committed to welcoming fans from every background and treating everyone with respect, and that’s what guides us as an organization.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Three city guides then told the story of Glasgow, using staging inspired by Scotland's pioneering textile industry and the River Clyde's shipbuilding heritage.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
She expertly guides readers through the life and legacy of a man who reached beyond a narrow base to challenge a fragile status quo amid unfolding social change.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
Across different cultures, they have been viewed as everything from mystical guides that help lost travelers find their way home to ominous creatures associated with bad luck.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
“Hold still,” she shouts as she guides the whirring blades over my head.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
Zidane's predecessor Deschamps guided France to three major finals over his 14-year reign, helping the country to their second World Cup success with victory in 2018.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Looking ahead, Lamb Weston guided for adjusted earnings of $2.95 to $3.25 a share in its fiscal 2027.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Sixers coach Nick Nurse, who celebrated his 59th birthday on Friday, guided the Toronto Raptors to the 2019 NBA title.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
The cells were guided to organize themselves into small, pea-sized clusters of brain tissue that resemble the hindbrain.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
She guided the boat along the shore until she was able to drag it up a sandy beach.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
Van Bommel most recently managed Royal Antwerp, guiding the club to the Belgian league title, Belgian Cup and Belgian Super Cup during a successful two-year spell.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Atomic weapons are an extinction-level threat, so you’d ideally want a steady hand guiding U.S. nuclear policy.
From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026
The company bumped up its profit forecast for the year, guiding for earnings per share of $7.35 to $7.50, compared with a prior range of $7.30 to $7.45.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Yet the principle of free navigation "did not prevent the British from guiding their colonisation in part according to the geography of straits", Domergue said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Before I could ask any more questions, Coach Mustilli was explaining what made a great saber fencer and guiding me out of the épée and foil room.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
