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
-
For those feeling especially upset over this video, Anderson recommends examining those feelings and channeling them in healthy, productive ways.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The 5-foot-10 actor of Training Day and Before Sunset was tasked with channeling a man many said was barely 5 feet tall with waning hair.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Waving a magic wand and instructing a client to avoid AI at all costs, well, that could be a costly endeavor to the person and potentially a near impossibility.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The governor said that her administration has issued a bulletin to the state’s health insurers instructing them to continue to provide insurance coverage for vaccines recommended by the Department of Public Health and not just those approved by the CDC.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
4 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
-
As the film starts, Maria is first met supervising a class trip to the local cider factory owned by local burgher Frank (Sean Gilder), whose daughter Pauline (Nia Brown) is in Maria’s class.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Talent shifts from large sets of tier-1 agents to a smaller set of specialists focused on supervising, handling escalations, training, and improving AI systems.—
Sanjay Srivastava,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 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
-
However, Langley, who has plays a key role in guiding the franchise as NBCUniversal Studio Group and Chief Content Officer, said part of the success of the long-running series has been its adaptability.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Gia Love, who first started the cookout five years ago in Bed-Stuy’s Herbert Von King Park, continues to be a guiding force behind the day’s celebrations.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 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
-
With the Luxury Tax system, clubs over a particular threshold, as well as in multiple years, and by how much, have created penalties paid by these clubs that now see a larger percentage of them funneling back to the clubs as a form of revenue sharing.—
Maury Brown,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
From atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace in Beijing, Xi presided over a 70-minute parade to mark the end of World War II – flanked by a strongman waging Europe’s bloodiest conflict since 1945 and an Asian leader funneling him troops and weapons.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Directing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directing. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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