Direct — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective adverb /də-ˈrekt/ di·rect

Meaning & Definition of Direct

Direct (verb)

  1. to cause to turn, move, or point undeviatingly or to follow a straight course
  2. to point, extend, or project in a specified line or course
  3. to regulate the activities or course of

Direct (adjective)

  1. proceeding from one point to another in time or space without deviation or interruption, straight
  2. proceeding by the shortest way
  3. stemming immediately from a source

Direct (adverb)

  1. in a direct way
  2. from point to point without deviation, by the shortest way
  3. from the source without interruption or diversion

Direct (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway

    "the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake"

    similar: canalize, channel, channelize, conduct, funnel, pipe, siphon
    related: carry, convey, transmit, concentrate, consolidate, focus

  2. 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"

    similar: adjure, bid, boss (around), charge, command, enjoin, instruct, order, tell
    related: ask, petition, request, beg, beseech, entreat, advise, counsel, warn, appoint, assign, authorize, commission, oversee, superintend, supervise, conduct, control, lead, manage, coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, require
    opposite: mind, obey
    near: comply (with), follow, keep, observe

  3. to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority

    "the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left"

    similar: call, command, decree, dictate, mandate, ordain, order, call for
    related: ask, petition, request, demand, require
    near: cancel, countermand, rescind

  4. to look after and make decisions about

    "the music teacher directs both the student orchestra and the marching band"

    similar: administer, administrate, carry on, conduct, control, govern, guide, handle, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend, watch over
    related: care (for), mind, watch, lead, pilot, steer, guard, protect, safeguard, micromanage, stage-manage, codirect, comanage

  5. to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal

    "we quickly directed our attention toward the noise coming from the rear"

    similar: aim, bend, cast, head, hold, level, pinpoint, set, train
    related: sight, bear, face, concentrate, focus, incline, orient, steer
    near: avert, curve, deflect, detour, divert, rechannel, shunt, sidetrack

  6. 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"

    similar: conduct, guide, lead, marshal, pilot, route, show, steer, usher
    related: precede, accompany, attend, chaperone, convoy, escort, see, control, manage
    opposite: follow, trail
    near: dog, hound, shadow, tail, tailgate

Direct (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. done or working without something else coming in between

    "a zoologist whose works are based entirely on her direct observation of animals in the wild"

    "the virus was the direct cause of the disease"

    similar: firsthand, immediate, primary, unmediated
    related: clinical, empirical, efficient, proximate, hands-on
    opposite: indirect, secondhand

  2. free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions

    "our coach is very direct, never hesitating for a moment to tell a player whenever he isn't performing up to snuff"

    similar: candid, forthcoming, forthright, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, freehearted, honest, open, openhearted, out-front, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, straight, straightforward, unguarded, unreserved, up-front
    related: artless, earnest, guileless, ingenuous, innocent, naive, natural, real, sincere, unaffected, undesigning, unpretending, unpretentious, outgoing, uninhibited, unrestrained, vocal, vociferous, abrupt, bluff, blunt, brusque, crusty, curt, gruff, sharp, impertinent, impolite, inconsiderate, rude, tactless, thoughtless, uncivil, undiplomatic, ungracious, unmannerly, unsubtle
    opposite: dissembling, uncandid, unforthcoming
    near: inhibited, reserved, restrained, close-mouthed, laconic, quiet, reticent, taciturn, tight-lipped, uncommunicative, ambiguous, circuitous, equivocal, evasive, diplomatic, politic, tactful, civil, considerate, courteous, polite

  3. going straight to the point clearly and firmly

    "clear and direct instructions that left no room for misinterpretation"

    similar: forthright, foursquare, plain, straight, straightforward
    related: aboveboard, candid, frank, free-spoken, honest, open, openhearted, outspoken, plainspoken, unguarded, unreserved, artless, earnest, sincere, uninhibited, unrestrained, abrupt, bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, gruff, point-blank, sharp, impolite, inconsiderate, rude, tactless, undiplomatic, true, truthful, veracious
    opposite: circuitous, indirect, roundabout
    near: circumlocutory, long-winded, prolix, verbose, wordy, inhibited, reserved, restrained, civil, courteous, polite, tactful, deceitful, lying, mendacious, untruthful, erroneous, fallacious, false, ambiguous, equivocal, evasive, misleading, double-dealing, hypocritical, two-faced

  4. free from irregularities or digressions in course

    "this road provides the most direct route to your destination"

    similar: linear, right, straight, straightaway, straightforward
    related: unbent, uncurled, untwisted, undeviating, unswerving
    near: bowed, rounded, entwined, kinked, swirled, turned, turning, twined, twining, twisted, twisting, veering, warped, bending, coiled, coiling, corkscrew, curled, curling, curved, curving, looped, looping, spiral, spiraling, wavy, winding, meandering, weaving, devious, serpentine, sinuous, crooked, zigzag, zigzagging

Direct (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. in a direct line or course

    "flew direct to the coast"

    similar: dead, directly, due, plumb, plump, right, straight, straightway, as the crow flies
    opposite: indirectly
    near: circuitously, deviously, veeringly

Related Entry: Direct mail (noun)

Direct mail is a different word from Direct. The synonyms below are for direct mail, not for direct.

  1. as in mailer, junk mail

    similar: junk mail, mailer, airmail, airpost, certified mail, registered mail, rural delivery, rural free delivery, special delivery, special handling, card, dispatch, epistle, letter, message, missive, note, postal card, postcard, printed matter, correspondence, mail, matter, parcel post, post (chiefly British), snail mail, bundle, package, shipment

Related Entry: Direct mails (noun)

Direct mails is a different word from Direct. The synonyms below are for direct mails, not for direct.

  1. as in mailers, junk mails

    similar: junk mails, mailers, airmails, airposts, certified mails, registered mails, rural deliveries, rural free deliveries, special deliveries, special handlings, cards, dispatches, epistles, letters, messages, missives, notes, postal cards, postcards, printed matters, correspondences, mails, matters, parcel posts, posts (chiefly British), snail mail, bundles, packages, shipments

Related Entry: Direct tax (noun)

Direct tax is a different word from Direct. The synonyms below are for direct tax, not for direct.

  1. as in personal tax

    similar: personal tax, assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, tax, capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, flat tax, proportional tax

Related Entry: Direct taxes (noun)

Direct taxes is a different word from Direct. The synonyms below are for direct taxes, not for direct.

  1. as in personal taxes

    similar: personal taxes, assessments, duties, impositions, imposts, levies, taxes, capitations, customs, excises, hidden taxes, income taxes, poll taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, single taxes, sin taxes, tariffs, tolls, tributes, value-added taxes, withholding taxes, supertaxes, surcharges, surtaxes, death taxes, estate taxes, inheritance taxes, flat taxes, proportional taxes

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Direct

The most common words with a similar meaning to Direct:

canalize, channel, channelize, conduct, funnel, pipe, siphon, adjure, bid, boss (around), charge, command, enjoin, instruct, order, tell, call, decree, dictate, mandate, ordain, administer, administrate, carry on, control, govern, guide, handle, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Direct

Words with the opposite meaning of Direct:

mind, obey, follow, trail, indirect, secondhand, dissembling, uncandid, unforthcoming, circuitous, roundabout, indirectly

Related Words for Direct

carry, convey, transmit, concentrate, consolidate, focus, ask, petition, request, beg, beseech, entreat, advise, counsel, warn, appoint, assign, authorize, commission, coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, require, demand, care (for), mind, watch, guard

Near Antonyms of Direct

comply (with), keep, observe, cancel, countermand, rescind, avert, curve, deflect, detour, divert, rechannel, shunt, sidetrack, dog, hound, shadow, tail, tailgate, inhibited, reserved, restrained, close-mouthed, laconic, quiet, reticent, taciturn, tight-lipped, uncommunicative, ambiguous

Word Forms of Direct

Inflections: directed, directing, directs

Origin & Etymology of Direct

Middle English, from Anglo-French directer, from Latin directus straight, from past participle of dirigere to direct dress

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Direct

Words & Phrases Containing Direct

direct action, direct broadcast satellite, direct current, direct democracy, direct deposit, direct examination, direct lighting

Frequently Asked Questions about Direct

What does "Direct" mean?

"Direct" means to cause to turn, move, or point undeviatingly or to follow a straight course. As an a verb, an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: to cause to turn, move, or point undeviatingly or to follow a straight course. It has 11 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Direct"?

Other words for "Direct" include canalize, channel, channelize, conduct, funnel, pipe, siphon and adjure. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Direct" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Direct"?

There are 191 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Direct". Common alternatives include canalize, channel, channelize, conduct, funnel, pipe, siphon, adjure, bid and boss (around).

What is the opposite of "Direct"?

Antonyms of "Direct" include mind, obey, follow, trail, indirect, secondhand, dissembling and uncandid. Near antonyms include comply (with), keep, observe and cancel.

How do you use "Direct" in a sentence?

Examples of "Direct" in a sentence: "the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake"; "our tour guide directed us to wait in front of the building until she could rejoin us"; "the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left".

Is "Direct" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Direct" can be used as a verb, an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

Is "Direct" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Direct" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Direct"?

"Direct" is pronounced /də-ˈrekt/ and divided into syllables as di·rect.