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

Washington will star in the feature, currently untitled but which was once referred to as The Frame, with McQuarrie directing. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026

Focusing on screenwriting, production and directing, Pulido is a former recipient of the Fonca Young Creators grant and was recently selected for the Pecda Veracruz program to write his third feature-film screenplay. — Ed Meza, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026

His additional directing credits include The Lost Children (2024), co-directed by Jorge Duran and Lali Houghton; the documentary series Heart of Invictus (2023), and the short film Lost and Found (2019). — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026

Still, there’s something compelling about Romero’s directing and his, for the time, boldly progressive take on feminism. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 11 Oct. 2026

Verb

One of the main threads of the book that drew Duffield to directing the adaptation was the father-son relationship at its core; his own son was 4 at the time of the set visit. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Earlier in the same week, North Korea reported testing tactical ballistic missiles from the area around the capital, directing them towards the East Sea. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026

The policy prohibited speakers from directing remarks to individual council members and restricted comments considered personal or abusive. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Michael Arabian was initially intimidated by the thought of directing Mandell, who had previously worked on the play with the author. — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

How has your career as a cinematographer informed your directing style? — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Chick-fil-A’s drive-thrus often have employees standing outside with tablets, taking orders and directing cars through lines that can stretch around the building. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Olathe City Council also approved directing local sales tax dollars generated on 165 acres in Olathe city limits toward paying off the bond debt. — Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026