guide 1 of 2

verb

Definition of guidenext
1
as in to show
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed the pastry chef guided her through the creation of the wedding cake, showing her how to ice the layers, fashion the elaborate decorations, and assemble the whole shebang

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to supervise
to look after and make decisions about thought the new superintendent would guide the school system well

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to steer
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front would be happy to guide you folks to the historic part of town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

guide

2 of 2

noun

ˈgīd How to pronounce guide (audio)
as in guard
one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy followed our guide through the dangerous mountain trails

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb guide contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of guide are engineer, lead, pilot, and steer. While all these words mean "to direct in a course or show the way to be followed," guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.

guided the scouts through the cave

Where would engineer be a reasonable alternative to guide?

The synonyms engineer and guide are sometimes interchangeable, but engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan.

engineered his son's election to the governorship

When is it sensible to use lead instead of guide?

Although the words lead and guide have much in common, lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

led his team to victory

When is pilot a more appropriate choice than guide?

In some situations, the words pilot and guide are roughly equivalent. However, pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.

piloted the bill through the Senate

When can steer be used instead of guide?

While in some cases nearly identical to guide, steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.

steered the ship through a narrow channel

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 guide
Verb
Most of the footage was filmed by astronauts, with Wang’s perspective guiding the story. —Marcelo Cajueiro, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025 These datasets can help guide decisions about where to explore for these minerals, how to mitigate the environmental impacts of mining, and how to assess Earth's evolving surface in a changing climate. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
If the past offers any guide, however, Havana will instead continue to rely on its formidable security apparatus to repress is citizens, while privatizing in ways that do not threaten the power and privileges of the elite. —Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025 Get Inside Wealth directly to your inbox The Inside Wealth newsletter by Robert Frank is your weekly guide to high-net-worth investors and the industries that serve them. —Robert Frank, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guide
  1. show
  2. supervise
  3. steer
  4. guard
  5. coach
  6. oversee
  7. lead
  8. companion
Verb
  • Even if Schottenheimer wants to deny it, a lot of the grit that players and the owner pointed to that was shown in the game goes right back to him.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Numbers provided by Cincinnati Public Schools show that the school district had 4,326 homeless students last year, representing a 77% increase from a decade prior, despite total student enrollment increasing by only 538 students over the same period of time.
    — Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Oct. 2025
Definition of show
Verb
  • Some genres may be extremely violent and gory, so parents may want to consider supervising their children's viewing of films or avoid them altogether.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement Concerns about damage to parks Former park officials and advocates have expressed fear that protected land will be damaged by visitors if sites are left partially open while thousands of workers are furloughed or fired, and therefore absent from supervising lands.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Definition of supervise
Verb
  • Republicans, aware of that history, are trying to steer the conversation in a different direction, leaving the door open to discuss the health care issue with Democrats later — once the government has reopened.
    — Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Hers is a banger about fractured trust and power struggles with a man who once steered her career.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of steer
Noun
  • The Orlando Magic have cut ties with guard Johnell Davis and forward Justin Minaya.
    — Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Here, to avoid drawing attention, interrogators and guards dressed as civilians, uniformed personnel were prohibited and unmarked vans and other regular vehicles moved prisoners in and out.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of guard
Verb
  • The duo, neither of which was born when Napier first began coaching in 2003, took advantage of Texas’ top cornerback, Malik Muhammed, missing the game.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
  • That wrinkle to the punt return game was a move by the coaching staff to put something else on staff for teams to prepare for.
    — Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Definition of coach
Verb
  • Elise Christopher oversaw the high school longitudinal studies at the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the Institute of Education Sciences, until she was laid off in March along with dozens of her colleagues.
    — Carmela Guaglianone, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
  • For a discovery to count, the AI has to oversee the entire project, from hypothesis generation to experiment design to data analysis.
    — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Definition of oversee
Verb
  • As digitization and agentic AI reshape work from customer service to customs, DHL is also upskilling people for digital roles and training supervisors to lead the transition.
    — Samuel Burke, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement An investigation led by the Guardian found in September that out of the 6,000 Palestinians from Gaza held by Israel since the Hamas terror attack two years ago, only one quarter were held on suspicion of militant links.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Definition of lead
Noun
  • The companion bill, SB 371, also alters insurance requirements for drivers, reducing the mandatory coverage for accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists from $1 million down to $60,000 per individual and $300,000 per accident.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Terri Sprague, Christopher Davis, Vicki Miller and Anthony Miller were sentenced for cruelty to a companion animal, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to court documents.
    — Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2025
Definition of companion

Phrases Containing guide

Browse Nearby Words

guidance
guide
guidebook
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Guide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guide. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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