1
as in channeling
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway
the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in instructing
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
our tour guide directed us to wait in front of the building until she could rejoin us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ordering
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority
the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in supervising
to look after and make decisions about
the music teacher directs both the student orchestra and the marching band
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in aiming
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
we quickly directed our attention toward the noise coming from the rear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in guiding
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in overseeing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in commanding
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of directing
Caché McClay, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The honors spanned across categories like writing, hairstyling, editing, directing, production, and sound.
—Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Despite the arguments against a ban, the motion passed 4-3 directing county staff to conduct more research on a possible ordinance.
—Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Sources tell Deadline that Chastain, Oscar-nominee John Hawkes and country singer Carter Faith are set to lead the Netflix mystery thriller Heartland, with Shana Feste directing.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
None of this is to say that Lee’s writing or directing is hard to follow.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
The acting didn’t bother me, but the directing did.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Phil Collinson also produces, with Hoar directing and Andy Pryor headingup casting.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The experiment involved directing an electron beam from the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) onto a hydrogen target inside the CLAS12 detector.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Bier has worked with both Bullock and Kidman before, directing 2018’s Birdbox and series The Perfect Couple.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
Before working with Colbert, De Mare had her first directing gig on Food Network, before working as an associate director on talk shows like The Rosie O’Donnell Show and The Jane Pauley Show.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
She’s also accused of directing co-conspirators to apply for public and private grants for the organization that actually went toward the couple’s living expenses.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Howard went on to star in another beloved TV series, Happy Days, but eventually pivoted to directing, helming movies like Splash, Apollo 13, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Beautiful Mind.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Good Fortune marks Ansari's feature directorial debut, following the shelving of his prior attempt at a first-time directing gig.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
What did making this teach you about the actual act of directing?
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
This year's special earned a total of four Emmy nominations, including, outstanding directing for a variety special, outstanding music direction and outstanding choreography (variety/reality).
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The honors spanned across categories like writing, hairstyling, editing, directing, production, and sound.
—Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Despite the arguments against a ban, the motion passed 4-3 directing county staff to conduct more research on a possible ordinance.
—Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Sources tell Deadline that Chastain, Oscar-nominee John Hawkes and country singer Carter Faith are set to lead the Netflix mystery thriller Heartland, with Shana Feste directing.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
None of this is to say that Lee’s writing or directing is hard to follow.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
The acting didn’t bother me, but the directing did.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Phil Collinson also produces, with Hoar directing and Andy Pryor headingup casting.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
What’s somewhat wild here is that this came from director Francis Lawrence, best known for directing almost all the Hunger Games movies, including Catching Fire, the two parts of Mockingjay and the recent Ballad of Songs and Snakes.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The experiment involved directing an electron beam from the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) onto a hydrogen target inside the CLAS12 detector.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Bier has worked with both Bullock and Kidman before, directing 2018’s Birdbox and series The Perfect Couple.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
Before working with Colbert, De Mare had her first directing gig on Food Network, before working as an associate director on talk shows like The Rosie O’Donnell Show and The Jane Pauley Show.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
She’s also accused of directing co-conspirators to apply for public and private grants for the organization that actually went toward the couple’s living expenses.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Howard went on to star in another beloved TV series, Happy Days, but eventually pivoted to directing, helming movies like Splash, Apollo 13, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Beautiful Mind.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Good Fortune marks Ansari's feature directorial debut, following the shelving of his prior attempt at a first-time directing gig.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
What did making this teach you about the actual act of directing?
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directing
Verb
-
Binns, sober since her 1979 stay at Cumberland Heights rehab in Nashville, often was brash when channeling her passion.—
Brad Schmitt,
Nashville Tennessean,
17 Sep. 2025
-
SaaS giants must avoid these pitfalls by channeling resources into green-light augmentation to ensure adoption and trust.—
Wayne Liu,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
According to their sources, Kennedy's ACIP is considering recommending the vaccines to those 75 and older, while instructing those 74 and younger to speak with their doctor about getting a shot.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
To authenticate the identity of the person who’s instructing the agent to transact on their behalf becomes an important part of the future of commerce as well.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
An English menu makes ordering easy.—
Kaila Yu,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Pocketalk's Miller believes that the potential of the technology goes far beyond a tourist ordering a glass of wine in France.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Members of a German team that had manufactured the cross were present, supervising Catalan workers who were preparing to install it.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, and Charlie Plummer star as some of the young boys in this gnarly competition while Mark Hamill is the Major, the menacing officer supervising the walk.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Maine Lottery offers several games for those aiming to win big.—
Jay Cannon,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
All the segments understand the assignment, aiming primarily to elicit hoots and hollers.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In such cases, an AI assistant will be vital for decision-making, monitoring health, and guiding experiments.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The coach who turned 100 last month perhaps is best known for guiding Buffalo to four straight Super Bowls and, alas, losing all four.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Christoph Waltz, already a two-time winner, delivers another commanding turn in his brief screen time.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Polling gives Blackburn a commanding lead, 68% to Rose’s 14% according to the Beacon Center.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That has monumentally changed college sports, of course, funneling schools into the Big Ten and SEC while decimating conferences like our old Pac-12 – but not the appeal of Pac-12 After Dark.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
11 Sep. 2025
-
More often, the reports showed groups funneling tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to other groups, without reporting where the money originated.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Directing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directing. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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