as in overseeing
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in commanding
Related Words
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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of directing
Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Stuart Meltzer, artistic director of Zoetic Stage and here guest directing at GableStage, keeps the action moving briskly while still allowing the play’s more powerful moments room to breathe.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Aster has repeatedly explored high-profile humiliation and anonymous crowds who mistake vengeance for catharsis in his own directing work, making the horror filmmaker’s involvement particularly on-theme.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
Shea grew up in Los Angeles and trained at the Los Angeles Theatre Academy, a three-year conservatory for acting and directing.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Rather than replacing directing, generative systems force creators to externalize intuition with unprecedented precision.
—C.m. Rubin, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
At the nose is a pronounced S-duct directing so much airflow that the wipers had to be vertically configured at the flanks of the windshield.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 25 May 2026
Presented by The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, the Tony Awards are considered the most prestigious honors in theater, recognizing excellence across acting, directing, design and more.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
The Through Her Lens workshop includes mentorship focused on script-to-screen development, music composition, costume design, producing and directing.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026
Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
This technique expedites growth, produces larger fruit, and leads to earlier harvests by directing the plant's energy to the main vine and developing cucumbers rather than unnecessary foliage.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
From directing to forming this little internet comedy group with a group of friends.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 May 2026
Hormones take the child’s body at puberty and conjure from it the adult form, directing the ovaries to mature their eggs or the testicles to produce sperm, each of these gametes containing the potential to create new life.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Behind The Scenes The directing duties for the Part 2 of One Hundred Years of Solitude are split between Laura Mora, who helmed episodes 1, 2, 5, 6 and the Grand Finale, and Carlos Moreno, who directed episodes 3, 4 and 7.
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term directing federal agencies not to recognize the citizenship of babies born in the United States if neither parent is a citizen or lawful permanent resident.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 May 2026
The day after Polis’ announcement, someone also launched a website calling for his impeachment and directing people to call lawmakers.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Reid Carolin is directing the film and wrote the script alongside Jason Keller and Bryan Johnson.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 20 May 2026
Noun
Baylin also recently penned the Lance Armstrong spec that sold to Apple this past spring with Ed Berger directing and Austin Butler attached to star as the famed cyclist.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Stuart Meltzer, artistic director of Zoetic Stage and here guest directing at GableStage, keeps the action moving briskly while still allowing the play’s more powerful moments room to breathe.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Aster has repeatedly explored high-profile humiliation and anonymous crowds who mistake vengeance for catharsis in his own directing work, making the horror filmmaker’s involvement particularly on-theme.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
Shea grew up in Los Angeles and trained at the Los Angeles Theatre Academy, a three-year conservatory for acting and directing.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Rather than replacing directing, generative systems force creators to externalize intuition with unprecedented precision.
—C.m. Rubin, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
At the nose is a pronounced S-duct directing so much airflow that the wipers had to be vertically configured at the flanks of the windshield.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 25 May 2026
Presented by The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, the Tony Awards are considered the most prestigious honors in theater, recognizing excellence across acting, directing, design and more.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
The Through Her Lens workshop includes mentorship focused on script-to-screen development, music composition, costume design, producing and directing.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026
Verb
The council voted to continue the item to a June meeting, directing staff to return with conditions addressing those concerns baked into any loan agreement.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
This technique expedites growth, produces larger fruit, and leads to earlier harvests by directing the plant's energy to the main vine and developing cucumbers rather than unnecessary foliage.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
From directing to forming this little internet comedy group with a group of friends.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 May 2026
Hormones take the child’s body at puberty and conjure from it the adult form, directing the ovaries to mature their eggs or the testicles to produce sperm, each of these gametes containing the potential to create new life.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Behind The Scenes The directing duties for the Part 2 of One Hundred Years of Solitude are split between Laura Mora, who helmed episodes 1, 2, 5, 6 and the Grand Finale, and Carlos Moreno, who directed episodes 3, 4 and 7.
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term directing federal agencies not to recognize the citizenship of babies born in the United States if neither parent is a citizen or lawful permanent resident.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 May 2026
The day after Polis’ announcement, someone also launched a website calling for his impeachment and directing people to call lawmakers.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Reid Carolin is directing the film and wrote the script alongside Jason Keller and Bryan Johnson.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directing
Noun
-
Mitchell torched the Pistons’ hopes for a commanding series lead while tying a postseason record with 39 second-half points.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
Cole, a contractor who specializes in building restaurants, is the Lexington Minute Men's captain commanding.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Federal agencies including the DOE and the Department of War have identified this concentration as a structural vulnerability and have been channeling capital toward domestic alternatives through grant programs, loan guarantees, and offtake support mechanisms.—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
-
While not made with AI, Pratt created another video channeling The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, writing his own lyrics to the show’s iconic theme song to embrace criticism of his living situation.—
Britta Miller,
The Washington Examiner,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Both Blue Origin and Space Force officials are instructing the public to report any debris that may wash up on nearby shores.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
-
Teachers took on a hybrid role, instructing in their classrooms while also accommodating the online learners.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
But for many New Yorkers, the convenience of ordering online couldn’t meet the immediate demand of sporting Knicks gear around the city the morning after the team’s most consequential victory in a generation.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
27 May 2026
-
The move backfired on Nexstar as a federal judge in Northern California issued a preliminary injunction, ordering Nexstar to halt the Tegna consolidation.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead of acting as intermediaries, humans focus on defining policies, supervising system behavior and handling exceptions.—
Krupesh Bhat,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
The defendant, 36, who has not been publicly identified, is accused of assaulting children while supervising them in bathrooms, during lunch breaks and in after-school care between August 2024 and April 2025.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Simmons uses his inside right hand to punch, aiming for the V of the defender’s neck while keeping his outside left hand firm to gauge where the rusher is looking to go.—
PJ Green
May 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2026
-
But a pandemic-era program is helping to keep it afloat as inflation worsens, while also aiming to create a new generation of seafood lovers.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
The organization also said Cuban authorities did not make any attempt to deal with the planes through some other means, including contacting them over the radio or guiding them out of the area.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
-
The leaders who embody and commit to these principles will stand a better chance at guiding their teams into the future.—
Eddy Azad,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
ByteDance keeps a non-controlling stake to comply with federal law.—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
According to those close to the family, József was extremely controlling and would often make terrifying threats.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directing. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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