direction
noun
di·rec·tion
də-ˈrek-shən 
dī-
1
: guidance or supervision of action or conduct : management
working under the direction of the doctor
2
archaic
: the address placed on the outside of a letter or package to be delivered : superscription
3
a
: an explicit instruction : order
carefully read the directions
follow directions
b
: assistance in pointing out the proper route
—usually used in plural
asked for directions to the beach
4
: the line or course on which something is moving or is aimed to move or along which something is pointing or facing
came from the opposite direction
walking in the same direction
5
archaic
: directorate sense 1
6
7
a
: the art and technique of supervising the production of a show or performance : the art and technique of directing an orchestra, band, or a show (as for stage or screen)
b
music
: a word, phrase, or sign indicating the appropriate tempo, mood, or intensity of a passage (see passage entry 1 sense 6b) or movement (see movement sense 4c)
directionlessness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of direction in a Sentence
The army attacked from three different directions.
Down the road, he could see a bus coming from the opposite direction.
The wind changed direction and started blowing in our faces.
Carefully read the directions before you begin the test.
Directions appear on the package.
We had to stop to ask for directions to the beach.
Excuse me. Could you please give me directions to the movie theater?
He was put in charge and given overall direction of the program.
Twenty-three employees work under her direction.
Several nurses working under the direction of this doctor have made complaints.
Recent Examples on the Web
The hull was sold to the government of Dubai, and, under the direction of the country’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, work on the 531.5-footer began again, though this time by Platinum Yachts.
—
Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2024
By Marina Koren Like migratory birds guided by the stars, hundreds of thousands of Americans have flocked in the direction of today’s total solar eclipse.
—Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024
Outside, in the airy courtyard behind the Sidewalk School, seven children study under the direction of two teachers, both of whom also are waiting for their asylum petitions to be heard.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
An Emmy-winner for his direction on HBO’s Chernobyl, Renck first collaborated with producer Parets on the Netflix sci-fi film Spaceman starring Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan and Paul Dano, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
Maryland voters also show a decline in optimism in the six years since The Post-UMD poll last asked about their views on the direction of the state.
—Emily Guskin, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
In the absence of legislative direction from the US Congress, says Silva, the classification question will be settled only when a crypto case moves through the appellate courts, perhaps arriving eventually at the US Supreme Court.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
The speed, the direction, the power, the sweep — all of it, awesome.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
At the time of the collision, an ebb tide was also running, meaning that the current would have been flowing out of the harbor — the same direction the vessel was traveling.
—Jackie Northam, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2024
By Marina Koren Like migratory birds guided by the stars, hundreds of thousands of Americans have flocked in the direction of today’s total solar eclipse.
—Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024
Outside, in the airy courtyard behind the Sidewalk School, seven children study under the direction of two teachers, both of whom also are waiting for their asylum petitions to be heard.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
An Emmy-winner for his direction on HBO’s Chernobyl, Renck first collaborated with producer Parets on the Netflix sci-fi film Spaceman starring Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan and Paul Dano, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
Maryland voters also show a decline in optimism in the six years since The Post-UMD poll last asked about their views on the direction of the state.
—Emily Guskin, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
In the absence of legislative direction from the US Congress, says Silva, the classification question will be settled only when a crypto case moves through the appellate courts, perhaps arriving eventually at the US Supreme Court.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
The speed, the direction, the power, the sweep — all of it, awesome.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
At the time of the collision, an ebb tide was also running, meaning that the current would have been flowing out of the harbor — the same direction the vessel was traveling.
—Jackie Northam, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'direction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near direction
Cite this Entry
“Direction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/direction. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
direction
noun
di·rec·tion
də-ˈrek-shən
dī-
1
: guidance of action or conduct : management
many people working under my direction
direction of a play
2
: an instruction, indication, or order given with authority
follow directions
3
: the line or course along which something moves, lies, or points
headed in a northerly direction
4
: tendency sense 1, trend
a new direction in literature
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