guide

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: one that leads or directs another's way
needed a guide for the safari
b
: a person who exhibits and explains points of interest
The museum guide was very helpful.
c
: something that provides a person with guiding information
used the stars as a guide to find their way back
e
: a person who directs another's conduct or course of life
He was my mentor and guide during the early years of my career.
2
a
: a device for steadying or directing the motion of something
The jigsaw was equipped with a guide.
b
: a ring or loop for holding the line of a fishing rod in position
c
: a sheet or a card with projecting tab for labeling inserted in a card index to facilitate reference
3
: a member of a unit on whom the movements or alignments of a military command are regulated
used especially in commands
guide right

guide

2 of 2

verb

guided; guiding

transitive verb

1
: to act as a guide to : direct in a way or course
He guided us around the city.
2
a
: to direct, supervise, or influence usually to a particular end
You'll need a lawyer to guide you through the legal system.
b
: to superintend the training or instruction of
A respected educator guided his studies.

intransitive verb

: to act or work as a guide
guider noun
Choose the Right Synonym for guide

guide, lead, steer, pilot, engineer mean to direct in a course or show the way to be followed.

guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.

guided the scouts through the cave

lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

led his team to victory

steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.

steered the ship through a narrow channel

pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.

piloted the bill through the Senate

engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan.

engineered his son's election to the governorship

Examples of guide in a Sentence

Noun We hired a guide for our trip to the mountains. He was my friend and my guide in the early years of my career. They used the stars as a guide to find their way back. If past experience is any guide, we're in for a long and difficult project. Verb He guided us around the city. He claims that there were unknown forces guiding the outcome of the election. He carefully guided the ship into the harbor. She guided her team to victory. Let your conscience guide you. Her example helped to guide me toward a career in medicine. In his work, he has always been guided by a desire to help other people. programs to help guide teenagers away from drug use She had a guiding influence on my decision. His guiding principle when he built his house was that bigger was better.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This week Michelin added 10 restaurants to its California guide, nine of which are in L.A. Stephanie Breijo has the details. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024 Another guide advises targeting girls who have eating disorders or bipolar disorder. Chris Dehghanpoor, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Hypochondriac’s guide Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome sounds fun, or at least odd. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 For this story, Bianca used her own personal experience with swimsuits as a guide to find the best options for fit and style (not forgetting price). Bianca Lambert, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 If history is any guide, the Irish imports will be favorites to win most of the top races, which were once watched by the late Queen Elizabeth II – herself an avid rider from childhood. Olivia Fletcher, Fortune Europe, 11 Mar. 2024 Organizers of these programs hope they can be replicated in other communities — and the online strategy guide is a tool to help them get started. Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 Counseling would at least give you support from someone without an agenda — and at best an informed guide. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
Players will choose between Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Ariel to guide them along the rainbow path. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 Today’s consumers want direct, clear, readable labels to guide their purchasing decisions. Julie Chapon, Fortune Europe, 5 Mar. 2024 Brit was Blackberry Smoke’s True North, the compass that instituted the ideology that will continue to guide this band. Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 Lynette Woodard, Brittney Griner, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi — there was a lot of past greatness, a lot of footsteps to guide Clark’s path. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024 But while every person and injury is different, there are some common principles to guide you back to play. Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 4 Mar. 2024 Gómez turned provider for RSL’s third goal just before halftime when his cross into the box found Chico Arango, who slid along the snow-laden grass and guided the ball into the net. Issy Ronald, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 So now Staley must help guide Sorensen, who may be a first-time coordinator, but so were Saleh and Ryans. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024 Audio guides to tours of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of the American Indian featured Momaday’s avuncular baritone. Hillel Italie, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'guide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English gide, guide, from Anglo-French, from Old Occitan guida, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English wītan to look after, witan to know — more at wit

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of guide was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near guide

Cite this Entry

“Guide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guide. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

guide

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: one that leads or directs another on a course
b
: a person who shows and explains points of interest (as on a tour)
c
: something that provides guiding information
a street guide
2
: a device for steadying or directing the motion of something

guide

2 of 2 verb
guided; guiding
1
: to act as a guide : conduct
guide a group on a tour
2
a
: manage sense 1, direct
guide a boat through the rapids
guidable
ˈgīd-ə-bəl
adjective

Medical Definition

guide

noun
: a grooved director for a surgical probe or knife

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