Direction — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /də-ˈrek-shən/ di·rec·tion

Meaning & Definition of Direction

Direction (noun)

  1. guidance or supervision of action or conduct, management
  2. the address placed on the outside of a letter or package to be delivered, superscription
  3. an explicit instruction, order

Direction (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: behest, charge, command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, do, edict, imperative, injunction, instruction, order, word
    related: demand, requirement, mandate, countermand, counterorder, law, precept, prescript, prescription, rule, ordinance, regulation, statute
    near: appeal, entreaty, petition, plea, urging, proposal, recommendation, suggestion

  2. the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something

    "working under the close direction of the engineering supervisor"

    similar: administration, care, charge, conduct, control, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision
    related: generalship, leadership, rulership, agency, aegis, custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward, engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation, coadministration, codirection, comanagement

  3. a guiding or motivating purpose or principle

    "a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures"

    similar: compass, cynosure, focus, lodestar, polestar
    related: benchmark, criterion, grade, mark, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick, aim, ambition, aspiration, dream, goal, intention, object, objective, purpose, target

  4. a prevailing or general movement or inclination

    "some older people worry about the overall direction that political discourse has taken lately"

    similar: current, drift, leaning, run, tendency, tide, trend, wind
    related: curve, downside, shift, swing, turn, turnabout, upside, custom, habit, propensity, tenor, way, countercurrent, countertrend, undercurrent, undertow

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Direction

The most common words with a similar meaning to Direction:

behest, charge, command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, do, edict, imperative, injunction, instruction, order, word, administration, care, conduct, control, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision, compass, cynosure, focus, lodestar, polestar, current, drift

Related Words for Direction

demand, requirement, mandate, countermand, counterorder, law, precept, prescript, prescription, rule, ordinance, statute, generalship, leadership, rulership, agency, aegis, custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward, engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation

Near Antonyms of Direction

appeal, entreaty, petition, plea, urging, proposal, recommendation, suggestion

Word Forms of Direction

Derived words: directionless (adjective), directionlessness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Direction

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Direction

Words & Phrases Containing Direction

direction angle, direction cosine, direction finder, stage direction, a step in the right direction, in the direction of (something), sense of direction, codirection

Frequently Asked Questions about Direction

What does "Direction" mean?

"Direction" means guidance or supervision of action or conduct, management. As a noun, it is defined as: guidance or supervision of action or conduct, management. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Direction"?

Other words for "Direction" include behest, charge, command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive and do. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Direction" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Direction"?

There are 114 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Direction". Common alternatives include behest, charge, command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, do, edict and imperative.

How do you use "Direction" in a sentence?

Examples of "Direction" in a sentence: "we were given very specific directions for the first part of the exam"; "working under the close direction of the engineering supervisor"; "a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures".

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

"Direction" is a noun.

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

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

How do you pronounce "Direction"?

"Direction" is pronounced /də-ˈrek-shən/ and divided into syllables as di·rec·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Direction"?

First known use: 15th century.