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Definitions

direct

[dih-rekt, dahy-] / dɪˈrɛkt, daɪ- /
ADJECTIVE
honest
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blunt candid explicit forthright sincere straightforward unambiguous unequivocal
STRONG
bald express frank open plain straight
WEAK
categorical downright matter-of-fact outspoken plainspoken point-blank straight from the shoulder talk turkey unconcealed undisguised unreserved
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ambiguous deceitful devious dishonest equivocal indefinite tricky vague
STRONG
indirect obscure unclear
WEAK
wily
ADJECTIVE
undeviating; uninterrupted
Synonyms
STRONGEST
continuous
STRONG
even right straight true
WEAK
beeline horizontal in bee line in straight line linear nonstop not crooked point-blank shortest straight ahead straightaway through unbroken unswerving
Antonyms
WEAK
changing deviating intermittent interrupted varying
ADJECTIVE
face-to-face; next to
Synonyms
STRONGEST
immediate person-to-person personal
STRONG
lineal prompt succeeding
WEAK
contiguous firsthand head-on next primary proximate resultant
Antonyms
WEAK
changing deviating devious dishonest indirect intermittent interrupted varying wily
VERB
manage, oversee
Synonyms
STRONGEST
advise conduct control guide handle keep lead operate run supervise
STRONG
administer boss dispose dominate govern influence ordain quarterback regulate rule shepherd superintend
WEAK
be in the driver's seat call the shots carry on control the affairs of have the say head up preside over run the show run things take the reins
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abandon give up leave let go neglect obey serve
STRONG
follow mismanage submit surrender yield
WEAK
diverge misdirect misguide mislead
VERB
give instructions; teach
Synonyms
STRONGEST
address advise command deliver inform instruct order tell warn
STRONG
bid charge dictate enjoin lecture read
WEAK
give directions give orders
Antonyms
WEAK
diverge misdirect misguide mislead mismanage neglect
VERB
point in a direction; guide
Synonyms
STRONGEST
address aim cast conduct focus head intend lead mean present see set show steer target train turn
STRONG
beam escort fix incline indicate lay level pilot point route shepherd sight slant
WEAK
move in point the way sight on zero in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
follow ignore neglect obey overlook take
WEAK
diverge misdirect misguide mislead mismanage
VERB
send, usually by mail system
Synonyms
STRONGEST
address
STRONG
designate inscribe label mail mark route superscribe
Antonyms
WEAK
diverge misdirect misguide mislead mismanage neglect
VERB
put all of efforts toward
Synonyms
STRONGEST
address aim apply devote give set throw try turn
STRONG
bend endeavor fix settle strive
WEAK
buckle down
Antonyms
STRONG
forget ignore unsettle
WEAK
diverge misdirect misguide mislead mismanage neglect

Usage

What are other ways to say direct? To direct is to give information for guidance, or instructions or orders for a course of procedure: to direct someone to the station. To conduct is to precede or escort them to a place, sometimes with a degree of ceremony: to conduct a guest to his room. Guide implies continuous presence or agency in showing or indicating a course: to guide a traveler. To lead is to bring them onward in a course, guiding by contact or by going in advance; hence, figuratively, to influence or induce to some course of conduct: to lead a procession; to lead astray.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Economists say that on India’s assembly lines, factory workers often earn less than direct hires and have seen their wages largely stuck for years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Until now, these patterns had mainly been seen in simulations rather than direct observations.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

Consider that the single-largest perpetual private-credit fund has to deploy roughly $43 billion a year just to stay invested — more than a quarter of the entire U.S. annual direct lending market.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Early research quantifying the economic impact of ICE raids in Oxnard estimates direct crop losses of $3 billion to $7 billion with significant spillover into other sectors of the economy.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

When I asked him to direct me toward Seventeenth Street, he shoved a Public Ledger at me and pointed west with a gruff bark.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Vocabulary lists containing direct

Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

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Ancient Greece, Lessons 1–3

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Academy Awards, List 6

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