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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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 Mexico’s defensive performance has been credited to the direction of Rafa Márquez, a former Barcelona player who is one of Mexico’s assistant coaches. — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 Strikeouts still remain an issue for Jones, and the Yankees had been reluctant to use him against southpaws, but the 25-year-old has taken steps in the right direction. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026 To vote in free elections without a gun to their head, to walk into a balloting place without fear of reprisal decide the direction of this country. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 His team is currently studying just how far in advance of the boot meeting the ball that a direction might be tipped. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 3 July 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
  • Recent policies that State Shield has supported include a Tennessee bill requiring the state board of education to adopt age-appropriate instruction related to communism and a Louisiana resolution encouraging economic ties with Taiwan.
    — Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
  • Plants need a good root system to hold onto water, and post-establishment watering instructions are important to follow.
    — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sent regulatory priorities to the nation’s regional fishery councils, which environmentalists say reveal a direct attack on fishery management and ocean conservation.
    — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • This necessitates a fundamental shift in corporate risk management.
    — Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of management
Noun
  • The prevailing motifs include Anglo-American boarding schools and college campuses, accoutrements with a romantic aura (billowing sleeves, melting candles), and analog artifacts (old compasses, monocles).
    — Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026
  • But this entailed an 800-mile journey over open ocean with only an ancient compass and the stars to guide them.
    — Terry W. Hartle, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026
Definition of compass
Noun
  • Submissions will be evaluated on creativity, distinctive musical identity, and understanding of global trends, with AI use strictly prohibited.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • There are limits to this model, however Replicating this success at scale won’t be easy, said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of trend
Noun
  • The Secret Service said earlier this evening that all attendees who evacuated the venue due to orders to shelter from approaching severe storms would have to go through security screenings again.
    — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • As the order to evacuate was played over loudspeakers on the National Mall, some people appeared to be standing in place, talking with those around them and not exiting the area, while others were walking toward exits.
    — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of order
Noun
  • Its El Segundo location has the El Segundo Clubhouse, which the club’s website describes as a 14,000-square-foot childcare center, where kids participate in activities under supervision.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 9 July 2026
  • Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
Definition of supervision
Noun
  • Over decades, the tides shift surrounding sand while marine life, like algae, grows over the device, camouflaging it into the natural ocean environment.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • Season after season, year after year, the tides have come in and out of New York Harbor long before the name New York had ever been spoken; Lenape dugouts crossed these currents.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
Definition of tide
Noun
  • Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse The highly agile Getty shooter Alan Crowhurst has done us a great favor by bringing concrete cloakroom evidence of the many social and administrative challenges that the (famous) Royal Ascot costume edicts require in order to be properly met.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • The memorandum includes a pledge by Iran to never purchase or construct nuclear weapons — a vow the Islamic Republic has made multiple times before, including by signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, in a religious edict issued by the late supreme leader and in the Obama-era nuclear accord.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 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 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on direction

Nglish: Translation of direction for Spanish Speakers

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