directed

1 of 2

adjective

di·​rect·​ed də-ˈrek-təd 

dī-

1

: subject to supervision or regulation

a directed reading program for students

2

: having a positive or negative sense

directed line segment

directedness noun

directedness

2 of 2

noun

di·​rect·​ed·​ness

plural -es

: subjection to a guiding or motivating influence

the interplay within the individual of these two directednesses

—Adam Curle

Examples of directed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Grant and Dougherty co-directed and co-wrote the film. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026

Trump’s ire seems most directed at Spain and France, rather than NATO itself. — Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

What the screen debate misses is that 40 seconds of looking at green space partially restores directed attention, which screens deplete. — John La Puma, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026

The miniseries First Day on Earth — which Coel wrote, co-directed, stars in, and EPs — is currently in production. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing directed

• inner-directed
• other-directed
• self-directed

Rhymes for directed

• affected
• bisected
• collected
• connected
• corrected
• defected
• deflected
• dejected
• detected
• dissected
• effected
• ejected

Kids Definition

directed

adjective

: proceeding or measured in a direction marked as positive or negative

a directed line segment