Synonyms of directing

directing 1 of 3

adjective

as in overseeing

Related Words

• overseeing
• controlling
• supervisory
• managing
• senior
• high-level
• main
• ruling
• reigning
• major
• leading
• officiating
• predominant
• lead
• commanding
• paramount
• first
• regnant
• presiding
• sovereign
• principal
• head
• chief
• prime
• primary
• predominate
• supreme
• foremost
• dominant
• premier
• top
• upper
• superior
• uppermost
• topmost
• high
• preeminent
• supereminent
• ascendant
• grand
• upmost

Dissimilar Words

• second
• less
• last
• lower
• secondary
• subordinate
• lesser
• ancillary
• subsidiary
• inferior
• assisting
• lowly
• assistant
• junior
• under
• deputy
• coadjutor

directing

2 of 3

noun

as in commanding

Related Words

• commanding
• ordering
• promotion
• facilitation
• fostering
• mandate
• empowerment
• delegation
• commendation
• consignment
• authorization
• entrustment
• accreditation
• commission
• license

directing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of direct

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

• channeling
• funneling
• conducting
• carrying
• channelizing
• focusing
• piping
• siphoning
• transmitting
• canalizing
• conveying
• concentrating
• consolidating

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

• instructing
• ordering
• telling
• commanding
• asking
• enjoining
• advising
• begging
• bidding
• charging
• requesting
• petitioning
• warning
• adjuring
• appointing
• requiring
• authorizing
• bossing (around)
• supervising
• managing
• forcing
• controlling
• assigning
• overseeing
• leading
• entreating
• commissioning
• conducting
• compelling
• beseeching
• superintending
• coercing
• counseling
• constraining
• obliging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obeying
• following
• keeping
• observing
• minding
• complying (with)

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

• ordering
• requesting
• asking
• mandating
• requiring
• dictating
• commanding
• calling
• demanding
• calling for
• decreeing
• ordaining
• petitioning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• canceling
• rescinding
• countermanding

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

• supervising
• overseeing
• managing
• controlling
• operating
• regulating
• conducting
• handling
• running
• governing
• guiding
• administering
• keeping
• tending
• superintending
• protecting
• administrating
• presiding (over)
• carrying on
• leading
• stewarding
• watching
• overlooking
• watching over
• steering
• safeguarding
• guarding
• piloting
• minding
• caring (for)
• stage-managing
• micromanaging
• codirecting
• comanaging

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

• aiming
• casting
• heading
• holding
• setting
• bending
• training
• focusing
• pinpointing
• steering
• leveling
• concentrating
• facing
• orienting
• sighting
• bearing
• inclining

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• diverting
• deflecting
• curving
• shunting
• averting
• detouring
• sidetracking
• rechanneling

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

• guiding
• steering
• leading
• conducting
• accompanying
• showing
• routing
• ushering
• escorting
• preceding
• marshaling
• piloting
• managing
• controlling
• attending
• seeing
• chaperoning
• convoying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• following
• trailing
• tailing
• shadowing
• hounding
• dogging
• tailgating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of directing

Noun

Along with directing, Wally serves as the film’s cinematographer. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026

The Night Manager won Emmys for directing and score in 2016 and this year returned for a surprise second season featuring its original lead actors in the same roles. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

De Heer has spent more than 40 years in Tasmania, Australia, directing, writing and producing films across a broad range of genres and subjects. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026

The project awards five scholarships, each lasting three years — the entire duration of the training program — to five students enrolled in the directing, acting, screenwriting, editing and production design courses. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Bermingham and Rhymer have been writing together for years, but this was their first feature as a directing duo. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026

As the war wound down, Olivier was becoming more obsessed with directing, often counting on Leigh as his cultured, measured adviser. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

The show won seven Emmys this year, including for writing, directing, technical direction, lighting, and editing. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026

The series scored five Emmys for directing, writing, lighting, editing and technical direction at a ceremony earlier this month. — Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

The laser accelerated electrons through a gas, directing them into a solid target to create light bursts that generated muon pairs. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

From labor struggles and lynching to desegregation, Murray served as the ethical voice of reason, directing Roosevelt to use her immensely powerful position on behalf of righteous causes. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

One use involves directing a beam of protons or other heavier particles into the patient, targeting unwanted cancerous cells (proton/heavy ion therapy). — Andrea Richard, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026

In addition to writing, directing and starring, Ng is producing New Diamond Restaurant alongside Mike Morrison. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026

Pollard’s recent directing credits include Tutu, which won the Peace Film Prize at this year’s Berlinale, as well as I Was Born This Way (2025), The League (2023), South to Black Power (2023), Citizen Ashe (2021) and MLK/FBI (2020). — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

But some Missouri Republicans are directing their ire at the Missouri Supreme Court. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

Other than directing a few hundred dollars toward their retirement savings every month, the couple said credit card debt, college tuition payments and inflation have made saving difficult. — Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026

The White House cited the statute, used against hacktivists, nation-state hackers and other cybercriminals, in an executive order directing prosecutors to pursue those who use AI to illegally access computers or further other crimes. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026