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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Van Ginkel’s return offers some hope, but this feels like two teams going in opposite directions.
—
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025
Walk for 20 steps before turning and walking 20 steps in the other direction.
—Leoni Jesner, Health, 1 Nov. 2025
Farrell and Kidman are outstanding, even as Lanthimos' ritualistic plotting and direction keep them hemmed into their characters' rigid conceptions.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Our roundups of the best telescopes and binoculars for stargazing can help point you in the right direction.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for direction
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025
Walk for 20 steps before turning and walking 20 steps in the other direction.
—Leoni Jesner, Health, 1 Nov. 2025
Farrell and Kidman are outstanding, even as Lanthimos' ritualistic plotting and direction keep them hemmed into their characters' rigid conceptions.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Our roundups of the best telescopes and binoculars for stargazing can help point you in the right direction.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for direction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for direction
Noun
-
In Uttar Pradesh, a development initiative provided community health workers with a smartphone app that combined diagnostic and treatment instructions with a client-management program.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Customers can tap their phones to the bag’s logo to access brand videos, authentication verification, care instructions, and personalized questionnaires.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Bangladesh’s government has plans to hand over the management of multiple hubs, including Chattogram’s largest terminal, New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), to foreign operators by December.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In Uttar Pradesh, a development initiative provided community health workers with a smartphone app that combined diagnostic and treatment instructions with a client-management program.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Years later the compass was created to help direct philanthropists, investors, officials and nonprofits to determine the most effective way to improve access and opportunity.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Then, in the thirteenth century, refinements to an ancient technology, the compass, led to its widespread adoption by sailors.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And the bubbly contortionist, 42, might have set a trend with those one-of-a-kind movements.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
With the Kingpins denim show in Amsterdam fresh in her mind, Velasquez also offered forward-looking trend and business insights on the future of denim.—
Lauren Parker,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Stratospheric forecastable order obtained – that is a climate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
That case revolves around a now-frozen second order from Immergut that blocked the deployment of troops from Oregon.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The men who play in the NFL would have something to say to today’s workers about the encroaching techno-supervision.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Awareness, supervision and preparation truly save lives.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
To have the chance to turn the tide.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Fully understanding how weather, flows, tides, and a plethora of other factors will help or hurt a bite are probably beyond your novice’s experience level.—
The Editors,
Outdoor Life,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Owners who defy this edict will be tied down and forced to watch their machines being destroyed during a demolition derby that will be free for the public to watch.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Of course, Nix never has to worry about the pain his defensive teammates can inflict, protected in practice by the strict don’t-touch-the-QB edict.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Direction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direction. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share