direct 1 of 3

1
as in to channel
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake

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2
3
as in to request
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left

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4
5
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal we quickly directed our attention toward the noise coming from the rear

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6
as in to steer
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front the guide directed the tour through the museum with commendable efficiency and expertise

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direct

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in primary
done or working without something else coming in between a zoologist whose works are based entirely on her direct observation of animals in the wild the virus was the direct cause of the disease

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2
3
4

direct

3 of 3

adverb

as in straight
in a direct line or course flew direct to the coast

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb direct contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of direct are bid, charge, command, enjoin, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls
the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

When would bid be a good substitute for direct?

The synonyms bid and direct are sometimes interchangeable, but bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How do charge and enjoin relate to one another, in the sense of direct?

Charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of direct?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

When might enjoin be a better fit than direct?

While the synonyms enjoin and direct are close in meaning, enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

When is it sensible to use order instead of direct?

While in some cases nearly identical to direct, order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

Examples of direct in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
There is no evidence that meteorologists or lawmakers have directed tropical cyclones to do their bidding, or have the capability to harness hurricanes in this way at all. Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 12 Oct. 2024 TikTok also directed users who watched or searched for Hurricane Milton content to information from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency. Clare Duffy, CNN, 12 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Harris, meanwhile, has portrayed herself as a direct, consistent advocate for reproductive health and rights, including Black maternal health. Geoff Mulvihill, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024 Security at Detroit's downtown ballot-counting headquarters is incredibly tight this election — a direct response to the mayhem four years ago. Joe Guillen, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Adverb
After all, with Pluto going direct in your relationship sector soon after, you’re presented with an opportunity to resolve lingering issues in your personal and professional partnerships. Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2024 Production on Season 2 — which will see Joe Russo direct — begins later this year. Keisha Hatchett, TVLine, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for direct 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for direct
Verb
  • Sharing several photos of the family's looks on Instagram, Hilton channeled Glinda the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz, wearing her iconic pink dress, silver crown and carrying a wand.
    Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The singer’s pastel set, which came with matching gauntlets and cowboy boots, channeled vintage pin-up models.
    Hannah Malach, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Where to order 2024 Halloween costume delivery in two hours: Spirit Halloween costumes 2024 last- minute The pop-up store brand this year began selling costumes and decor through Uber, Uber Eats and Postmates apps.
    Cheryl V. Jackson, The Courier-Journal, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Whitaker ordered that Williams remain away from the metropolitan Atlanta area beginning two days following his release from custody for the first 10 years of his probation.
    Nick Valencia, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Sheriff tells residents to 'write down' Harris supporter addresses in September Rodgers' comments come two months after an Ohio county sheriff took to social media to seemingly request the addresses of homes with front yard signs supporting Harris.
    Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Voter registration records are removed when voters move from Delaware, pass away, request for their record to be removed, or their record is removed due to the NVRA address verification process.
    Patrick Maguire, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The Hungarian leader's remarks came while protests erupted outside Georgia's Parliament on Monday night, with demonstrators demanding a new vote supervised by international observers.
    Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
  • The workers have now filed for an official election supervised by the federal government.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Harris now seeks to go further still, aiming for the U.S. presidency.
    Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024
  • And that’s exactly what the Cardinals were aiming for — a shot at three points.
    Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Unfortunately, for this exact reason, the studios decided to steer clear of the second weekend of November, which means there’s nothing else to talk about.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024
  • Rain and snow are likely to have the biggest impact on voter turnout, though the worst of the storms are expected to steer clear of the seven swing states that could determine the winner of one of the closest presidential elections in U.S. history.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • In his request for a restraining order, Chigvintsev claimed that Garcia had been the primary aggressor.
    Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Alpha Genesis is responsible for the maintenance, feeding, and veterinary care of monkeys at its primary facility in Yemassee.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Musk’s outspoken positions on social issues, particularly his recent hostility to corporate diversity, equity and inclusion policies, has led the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, or CalPERS, which owns Tesla shares worth about $1.8 billion, to review its investment in the carmaker.
    Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Will Pierce, former Senior Advisor to Bernie Sanders and Director of the Draft Biden movement, is now a Republican strategist and outspoken critic of the Democratic Party.
    Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near direct

Cite this Entry

“Direct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direct. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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