direction

American  

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

noun

• directions
  plural

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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Synonym Usage

See tendency.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• directions
  plural

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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

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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

See Examples For:

direction directions

"The direction of Brazilian environmental policy carries a lot of weight in international negotiations," a French diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity, highlighting Brazil's role in coalitions among developing nations.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

India’s PMI pointed in the opposite direction, signaling improved business activity in October as inflationary pressures softened further.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Its color differs from the surrounding terrain, and its rock layers are tilted in an unexpected direction.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

The more valuable the stock, the bigger its influence on the daily direction of the index, which is weighted by market capitalization.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

Not only had the Afterlife sent him a wandering soul on his day of rest, it would apparently provide no direction as to where this soul belonged.

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

Further experiments revealed that interactions with the surface can cause molecules to align in particular directions and alter their energy levels.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

Now, the pride moves in both directions — with Sofia as reverent of her mother’s work as Eleanor was of hers — meeting in the middle to stretch into the future.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

Trucks bearing the nations' flags began moving in both directions late morning, AFP reporters at the scene said, some of the North Korean vehicles decorated with flowers.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

A placid stock market is suddenly facing threats from all directions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

When we reach Calle Obispo, the street fills with people walking in opposite directions, some to the Parque Central, some to the Malecón and the sea.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

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Related Words

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

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