DIRECT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does direct mean? 

• DIRECT (adjective)
  The adjective DIRECT has 10 senses:

1. direct in spatial dimensions; proceeding without deviation or interruption; straight and short

2. having no intervening persons, agents, conditions

3. straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action

4. in a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child

5. moving from west to east on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in the same direction as the Earth

6. similar in nature or effect or relation to another quantity

7. (of a current) flowing in one direction only

8. being an immediate result or consequence

9. in precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker

10. lacking compromising or mitigating elements; exact

  Familiarity information: DIRECT used as an adjective is familiar.

• DIRECT (verb)
  The verb DIRECT has 13 senses:

1. command with authority

2. intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

3. guide the actors in (plays and films)

4. be in charge of

5. take somebody somewhere

6. cause to go somewhere

7. point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

8. lead, as in the performance of a composition

9. give directions to; point somebody into a certain direction

10. specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

11. direct the course; determine the direction of travelling

12. put an address on (an envelope)

13. plan and direct (a complex undertaking)

  Familiarity information: DIRECT used as a verb is familiar.

• DIRECT (adverb)
  The adverb DIRECT has 1 sense:

1. without deviation

  Familiarity information: DIRECT used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DIRECT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Direct in spatial dimensions; proceeding without deviation or interruption; straight and short

Context example:

a direct hit

Similar:

through ((of a route or journey etc.) continuing without requiring stops or changes)

undeviating; unswerving (going directly ahead from one point to another without veering or turning aside)

straightforward (pointed directly ahead)

nonstop ((of a journey especially a flight) occurring without stops)

door-to-door ((of e.g. journeys or deliveries) direct from point of origin to point of destination)

point-blank (close enough to go straight to the target)

Also:

straight (having no deviations)

Attribute:

directness; straightness (trueness of course toward a goal)

Antonym:

indirect (not direct in spatial dimension; not leading by a straight line or course to a destination)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having no intervening persons, agents, conditions

Synonyms:

direct; unmediated

Context example:

direct vote

Similar:

immediate (having no intervening medium)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action

Context example:

a direct approach

Similar:

pointed (direct and obvious in meaning or reference; often unpleasant)

upfront (frank and honest)

square; straight; straightforward (without evasion or compromise)

plain; unvarnished (free from any effort to soften to disguise)

no-nonsense (not tolerating irrelevancies)

man-to-man (forthright and honest)

flat-footed; flatfooted (forthright and explicit)

brutal (disagreeably direct and precise)

blunt; candid; forthright; frank; free-spoken; outspoken; plainspoken; point-blank; straight-from-the-shoulder (characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion)

bluff (bluntly direct and outspoken but good-natured)

Also:

honest; honorable (not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent)

Antonym:

indirect (extended senses; not direct in manner or language or behavior or action)

Derivation:

directness (the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech)

Sense 4

Meaning:

In a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child

Synonyms:

direct; lineal

Context example:

direct heredity

Similar:

matrilineal; matrilinear (based on or tracing descent through the female line)

patrilineal; patrilinear (based on or tracing descent through the male line)

unilateral (tracing descent from either the paternal or the maternal line only)

Also:

related (connected by kinship, common origin, or marriage)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Moving from west to east on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in the same direction as the Earth

Domain category:

astronomy; uranology (the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole)

Antonym:

retrograde (moving from east to west on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in a direction opposite to that of the Earth)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Similar in nature or effect or relation to another quantity

Context example:

a term is in direct proportion to another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other increases (or decreases)

Domain category:

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Antonym:

inverse (opposite in nature or effect or relation to another quantity)

Sense 7

Meaning:

(of a current) flowing in one direction only

Context example:

direct current

Domain category:

electricity (a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons)

Antonym:

alternating ((of a current) reversing direction)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Being an immediate result or consequence

Context example:

a direct result of the accident

Similar:

primary (of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary)

Derivation:

directness (trueness of course toward a goal)

Sense 9

Meaning:

In precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker

Synonyms:

direct; verbatim

Context example:

repeated their dialog verbatim

Similar:

exact (marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Lacking compromising or mitigating elements; exact

Context example:

the direct opposite

Similar:

absolute (perfect or complete or pure)

• DIRECT (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Command with authority

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

He directed the children to do their homework

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

enjoin; order; say; tell (give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

stet (printing: direct that a matter marked for omission or correction is to be retained (used in the imperative))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They direct him to write the letter

Derivation:

directive (a pronouncement encouraging or banning some activity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

aim; direct; place; point; target

Context example:

direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

aim; direct; take; take aim; train (point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

address (direct a question at someone)

home in; range in; zero in (direct onto a point or target, especially by automatic navigational aids)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Guide the actors in (plays and films)

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Domain category:

performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

stage direct (direct for the stage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue direct the movie

Derivation:

director (someone who supervises the actors and directs the action in the production of a show)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be in charge of

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

care; deal; handle; manage (be in charge of, act on, or dispose of)

Cause:

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

give; have; hold; make; throw (organize or be responsible for)

guide; steer (be a guiding or motivating force or drive)

head; lead (be in charge of)

operate; run (direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.)

administer (direct the taking of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

directive (showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on)

director (someone who controls resources and expenditures)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Take somebody somewhere

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

conduct; direct; guide; lead; take

Context example:

He conducted us to the palace

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

beacon (guide with a beacon)

hand (guide or conduct or usher somewhere)

lead astray; misdirect; misguide; mislead (lead someone in the wrong direction or give someone wrong directions)

show; usher (take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Cause to go somewhere

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

direct; send

Context example:

He directed all his energies into his dissertation

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

refer (send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision)

blow (cause air to go in, on, or through)

airt; redirect (channel into a new direction)

route (send via a specific route)

divert (send on a course or in a direction different from the planned or intended one)

turn (to send or let go)

turn (channel one's attention, interest, thought, or attention toward or away from something)

cast; contrive; project; throw (put or send forth)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 7

Meaning:

Point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

aim; direct; take; take aim; train

Context example:

Take a swipe at one's opponent

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

position (cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

swing (hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement)

sight (take aim by looking through the sights of a gun (or other device))

level (aim at)

charge; level; point (direct into a position for use)

turn (direct at someone)

hold (aim, point, or direct)

draw a bead on (aim with a gun)

aim; direct; place; point; target (intend (something) to move towards a certain goal)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 8

Meaning:

Lead, as in the performance of a composition

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

conduct; direct; lead

Context example:

conduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

do; execute; perform (carry out or perform an action)

Verb group:

conduct (lead musicians in the performance of)

Domain category:

music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

director (the person who leads a musical group)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Give directions to; point somebody into a certain direction

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

I directed them towards the town hall

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

apprise; apprize; instruct (make aware of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

point the way (indicate the right path or direction)

talk down (direct and control (the flight of an airplane during landing) via radio)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Sense 10

Meaning:

Specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

aim; calculate; direct

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

designate; destine; intend; specify (design or destine)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 11

Meaning:

Direct the course; determine the direction of travelling

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

channelise; channelize; direct; guide; head; maneuver; manoeuver; manoeuvre; point; steer

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

command; control (exercise authoritative control or power over)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

park (maneuver a vehicle into a parking space)

corner; tree (force a person or an animal into a position from which he cannot escape)

channel (direct the flow of)

navigate; pilot (act as the navigator in a car, plane, or vessel and plan, direct, plot the path and position of the conveyance)

conn (conduct or direct the steering of a ship or plane)

starboard (turn to the right, of helms or rudders)

stand out (steer away from shore, of ships)

crab (direct (an aircraft) into a crosswind)

helm (be at or take the helm of)

pull over (steer a vehicle to the side of the road)

sheer (cause to sheer)

dock (maneuver into a dock)

navigate (direct carefully and safely)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 12

Meaning:

Put an address on (an envelope)

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

address; direct

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

label (assign a label to; designate with a label)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

misaddress; misdirect (put a wrong address on)

instrument (address a legal document to)

re-address (put a new address on (an envelope), as for forwarding)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 13

Meaning:

Plan and direct (a complex undertaking)

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

direct; engineer; mastermind; orchestrate; organise; organize

Context example:

he masterminded the robbery

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

plan (make plans for something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

choreograph (plan and oversee the development and details of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

directive (showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on)

• DIRECT (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Without deviation

Synonyms:

direct; directly; straight

Context example:

went direct to the office

 Context examples 

They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on the distaff side.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A recombinant, human IgG1 monoclonal antibody directed against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), with immunomodulating activity.

(Adalimumab, NCI Thesaurus)

This turn to direct orbit will give Uranus high-octane energy and power.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

This allele, which encodes AF4/FRM2 family member 3 protein, may play roles in both the activation of RNA polymerase II-directed transcription and the development of lymphoid tissues.

(AFF3 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

I was seen by the sentinel, who would, I knew, direct the colonel’s attention to my presence.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Do you think you shall like Morton?" she asked of me, with a direct and naive simplicity of tone and manner, pleasing, if child-like.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The virus spreads by direct contact, and can be prevented by prophylaxis with the polio vaccine.

(Acute Poliomyelitis, NCI Thesaurus)

Thus, sticks and stones, directed by these strange creatures, leaped through the air like living things, inflicting grievous hurts upon the dogs.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The timing of the radar echoes, as they bounced off the canyons' edges and floors, provided a direct measure of their depths.

(Cassini Finds Flooded Canyons on Titan, NASA)

Although its mechanism of action is unknown, acetazolamide has anti-convulsant properties resulting from indirect effects secondary to metabolic acidosis or direct effects on neuronal transmission.

(Acetazolamide, NCI Thesaurus)