direction

noun

də-ˈrek-shən How to pronounce direction (audio)
Definition of directionnext
1
as in instruction
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned we were given very specific directions for the first part of the exam

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in management
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something working under the close direction of the engineering supervisor

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3
as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures

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4
as in trend
a prevailing or general movement or inclination some older people worry about the overall direction that political discourse has taken lately

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of direction But filmmakers sometimes lean too far in the direction of our film subjects. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026 According to the study, the ice started re-expanding at this precise moment because two global forces were pulling it in opposite directions, and one of them eventually won. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026 And unfortunately, there was another part of our party that didn't choose to be responsible with their firearm and fired too closely in my direction. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Then there’s a simple equalizer with five genre presets, and a not-so-comprehensive custom option with only three sliders and 6dB of adjustment in either direction. — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for direction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for direction
  1. instruction
  2. management
  3. compass
  4. trend
  5. order
  6. supervision
  7. tide
  8. edict
Noun
  • Believing her daughter’s life was on the line, Del Mastro followed the caller’s instructions for five hours.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Over seven full-lengths, Butler has created a multi-volume instruction manual for transcendence.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • These private, elevated spaces so intrinsic to the character of the property will remain closed to the public while management seeks a practical solution.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Savannah River National Laboratory conducts research involving nuclear materials, environmental management, energy technologies, and national security.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of management
Noun
  • The emotional compass of the United Farm Workers of America for decades, the petite mother of 14 attained singular stature as a rule-breaking proto-feminist, godmother of the Chicano power movement and doyenne of American labor.
    — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Agent 12, for example, spent most of its time forming shapes such as a compass or a clock, and figures such as a butterfly or a sailboat.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of compass
Noun
  • The trend marks a stark turn from earlier this decade, when sellers often received well above their asking price as home shoppers empowered by rock-bottom mortgage rates fueled a buying frenzy that sent home prices soaring.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Darker denim tones have really come into their own in the past year, and chocolate hues in particular are a fall fashion trend that shows no signs of slowing down in winter.
    — Georgia Trodd, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of trend
Noun
  • Members’ lagging caucus dues payments to the DCCC might also factor into these races, with House Democrats mulling a rules change to mandate that dues are paid in order to serve on top committees.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The plans were developed by the Department of Government Efficiency, a cost-cutting team initially overseen by billionaire Elon Musk, in response to a presidential order meant to rid the government of DEI programs.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of order
Noun
  • Budget for training, supervision and continuity alongside implementation.
    — Dr. Timothy J. Giardino, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The root of the conflict is the Colorado River Compact, negotiated in 1922 among the seven states of the Colorado watershed under the supervision of the then-Secretary of Commerce, Herbert Hoover.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of supervision
Noun
  • Other tide gauges across Southern California approached record levels, including in La Jolla.
    — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Warm ocean temperatures have expanded the water, making the tides higher than ever in some places.
    — N. Kirkpatrick, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of tide
Noun
  • Eventually, an edict from the top came that existing attorneys should not anticipate additions to the court teams, according to one source.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In the years that followed, predatory land purchases, restrictive edicts, and forced displacement further diminished their ranks.
    — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of edict

Browse Nearby Words

directing
direction
directionless
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Cite this Entry

“Direction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direction. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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