1
as in conducts
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 instructs
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 orders
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 supervises
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 aims
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 steers
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 directs
Countering that argument, opponents of geofencing contend that because the warrant directs the tech company to search millions of users' location history, millions of people were subjected to a search despite never having done anything suspicious.
—
Nina Totenberg, NPR, 9 June 2026
Hamm executive produces alongside Connie Tavel, Craig Gillespie, Jamie Rosengard, Lori Keith Douglas and Stephanie Laing, who directs six episodes.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 June 2026
The Immigration and Nationality Act directs the removal of aliens who illegally vote in American elections.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
Advertisement Relatedly, there is the way Trump directs law enforcement.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 9 June 2026
Colbert, who teaches at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and directs the Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners Clinic, filed a petition to correct the sentence last year.
—Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 8 June 2026
Apart from acting, Towne also writes, produces and directs.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
Guerra, who directs the Center for the Study of Los Angeles, pointed to the city’s political makeup.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The order also directs the attorney general to prioritize prosecuting crimes involving AI, with a particular focus on cybercrimes.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 2 June 2026
Nina Totenberg, NPR, 9 June 2026
Hamm executive produces alongside Connie Tavel, Craig Gillespie, Jamie Rosengard, Lori Keith Douglas and Stephanie Laing, who directs six episodes.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 June 2026
The Immigration and Nationality Act directs the removal of aliens who illegally vote in American elections.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
Advertisement Relatedly, there is the way Trump directs law enforcement.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 9 June 2026
Colbert, who teaches at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and directs the Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners Clinic, filed a petition to correct the sentence last year.
—Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 8 June 2026
Apart from acting, Towne also writes, produces and directs.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
Guerra, who directs the Center for the Study of Los Angeles, pointed to the city’s political makeup.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The order also directs the attorney general to prioritize prosecuting crimes involving AI, with a particular focus on cybercrimes.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directs
Verb
-
Concrete walls and floors are reinforced with metal rebar, which conducts electricity and should therefore also be avoided.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
12 June 2026
-
Nikola Printz sings the title role, and the cast also includes Courtney Miller as Ruggiero, Shawnette Sulker as Morgana, and Sara Couden as Bradamante; Zachary Gordin is the director and Derek Tam conducts.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Emmett holds the two men at gunpoint and instructs them to transport him to a specific location to evade capture.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
-
Choreographer Madeline Hollander closes her red notebook and instructs the dancers to start from the beginning.—
Steven Vargas,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes, the company finds out about celebrities wearing its shirts when a film company orders them, Weil writes.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
8 June 2026
-
So the Devil orders the father to cut off his daughter’s offending hands.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Milshtein previously served as adviser to COGAT, which supervises civilian policy in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
-
As chief of patrol, Hein supervises the most visible aspects of the Police Department that define its image in the minds of most Chicagoans, including emergency response, crisis intervention, traffic control, routine patrol and community policing efforts.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The press aims to champion writing that is urgent and insurgent.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The answers are out there, and NewsNation aims to find them.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
That process shapes and steers the beam while reducing hardware complexity.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
-
But laboratory confirmation, genomic sequencing to track the strain, the epidemiological analysis that steers the response, and more can be supported from the national and some provincial capitals.—
Tom Frieden,
STAT,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Outside of competition, Andrews channels his passion for athletics into the Chaski Foundation, an organization that supports young athletes in Ecuador and Nepal.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
-
Take a retired superintendent in my neighborhood who channels decades of leadership into community impact — serving on a childcare center board, leading a children's choir, and volunteering at a local health program.—
Esther K. Choy,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Sam McDowell tells us how one dinner 20 years ago with Illig, Neal Patterson and Lamar Hunt changed the future of soccer in Kansas City.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
-
Make Way for Ducklings, the iconic children’s book by Robert McCloskey, tells the story of a family of ducks that make a home in the garden’s lagoon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directs. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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