A direction is the general line that someone or something is moving or pointing in.
St Andrews was ten miles in the opposite direction.
He drove off in the direction of Larry's shop. [+ of]
Civilians were fleeing in all directions as soldiers yelled at them to get off thestreets.
The instruments will register every change of direction or height.
Synonyms: way, course, line, road More Synonyms of direction
2. variable noun
A direction is the general way in which something develops or progresses.
They threatened to walk out if the party did not change direction.
I've never done any sustained writing, but that might be one of my next directions.
Synonyms: tendency, attitude, bent, current More Synonyms of direction
3. plural noun
Directions are instructions that tell you what to do, how to do something, or how to get somewhere.
I should know by now not to throw away the directions until we've finished cooking.
He proceeded to give Dan directions to the computer room.
4. uncountable noun
The direction of a film, play, or television programme is the work that the director does while it is being made.
His failures underline the difference between theatre and film direction.
5. See also direct
direction in British English
(dɪˈrɛkʃən, daɪ-)
noun
1.
the act of directing or the state of being directed
2.
management, control, or guidance
3.
the work of a stage or film director
4.
the course or line along which a person or thing moves, points, or lies
5.
the course along which a ship, aircraft, etc, is travelling, expressed as the angle between true or magnetic north and an imaginary line through the main fore-and-aft axis of the vessel
6.
the place towards which a person or thing is directed
7.
a line of action; course
8.
the name and address on a letter, parcel, etc
9. music
the process of conducting an orchestra, choir, etc
10. music
an instruction in the form of a word or symbol heading or occurring in the body of a passage, movement, or piece to indicate tempo, dynamics, mood, etc
11. (modifier) mathematics
a.
(of an angle) being any one of the three angles that a line in space makes with the three positive directions of the coordinate axes. Usually given as α, β, and γ with respect to the x-, y-, and z-axes
b.
(of a cosine) being the cosine of any of the direction angles
direction in American English
(dəˈrɛkʃən; also daɪˈrɛkʃən)
noun
1.
the act of directing; management; supervision
2. [usually pl.]
instructions for doing, operating, using, preparing, etc.
3.
an authoritative order or command
4.
the point toward which something faces or the line along which something moves or lies
“north,” “up,” “forward,” and “left” are directions
5.
an aspect, line of development, way, trend, etc.
research in new directions
6. Theatre
a.
the director's plan for achieving certain effects, as of acting, lighting, etc.
b.
the instructions for this to the actors and others
7. Music
a.
a word, phrase, or sign showing how a note, passage, etc. is to be played
b.
the work or art of directing a choir, band, etc.
Word origin
ME direccioun < L directio
COBUILD Collocations
direction
clear direction
future direction
in the same direction
unexpected direction
Examples of 'direction' in a sentence
direction
Would he consider changing his management to take his work in a different direction?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We are going in the right direction.
The Sun (2017)
The centre of opinion is always moving in the opposite direction from the policy of the government.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The government is heading in completely the wrong direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Governments cannot strike out in a new direction as suddenly as could an individual like me.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We are all pulling in one direction.
The Sun (2017)
Sometimes terrible things give you direction.
The Sun (2017)
That too is a fluid situation - the jumper is being lifted and not always in control of his height or direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The talk is around general culture, direction, performance pathways.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They need not publicise such guidance, but it would give direction, and direction is what thisgovernment is lacking.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This time in the old gladiatorial city the thumbs were heading in only one direction.
The Sun (2009)
They want to take charge and take control of their direction in life.
Harris, Jean Everything You Need to Know for Success in Business (1990)
To fully condition the abdominal muscles requires that you work in a number of different directions.
Lycholat, Tony Shape Your Body, Shape Your Life (1987)
We feel we are moving in the right direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It will help keep young people out of trouble and give them a sense of direction.
The Sun (2015)
The pattern runs in the opposite direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Then you expect those who are leading football to go in the same direction of fair play.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are already some good signs of progress in this general direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Tottenham are moving in the right direction and things are going well for me here.
The Sun (2008)
We think these are steps in the wrong direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This can lead to changes of direction or the introduction of additional angles that must be covered.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This will take love in an exciting new direction.
The Sun (2008)
Who will you turn to now for direction?
Christianity Today (2000)
The art direction in this film is incredible and has an incredible elegance.
The Sun (2007)
Now we are learning slowly how to do this work systematically and with direction and control.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
The data is mixed with leading and lagging indicators pointing in different directions.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We are definitely going in the right direction.
The Sun (2007)
What about those stretches of road with two lanes in one direction to allow overtaking and only one coming the other way?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
First, study the angle and direction of the unwanted views of your property.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The unnamed officer wanted directions after getting lost en route to a suspect in Bristol.
The Sun (2013)
Your ruling planet Mercury changes direction and lines up new experiences.
The Sun (2009)
The wind direction governs the angle at which waves arrive at a beach, but gravity determines their line of retreat.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
direction
British English: direction /dɪˈrɛkʃən; daɪ-/ NOUN
way A direction is the way that you go to get to a place.
My house is in this direction.
American English: direction
Arabic: تَوْجِيه
Brazilian Portuguese: direção
Chinese: 方向
Croatian: smjer
Czech: směr
Danish: retning
Dutch: richting
European Spanish: dirección sentido
Finnish: suunta
French: direction
German: Richtung
Greek: κατεύθυνση
Italian: direzione
Japanese: 方向
Korean: 방향
Norwegian: retning
Polish: kierunek
European Portuguese: direção
Romanian: adresă
Russian: направление
Latin American Spanish: dirección rumbo
Swedish: riktning
Thai: ทิศทาง
Turkish: yön
Ukrainian: напрям
Vietnamese: phương hướng
All related terms of 'direction'
clear direction
A direction is the general way in which something develops or progresses .
direction angle
any one of the three angles that a line in space makes with the three positive directions of the coordinate axes . Usually given as α, β, and γ with respect to the x-, y-, and z- axes
stage direction
Stage directions are the notes in the text of a play which say what the actors should do.
direction cosine
the cosine of any of the direction angles
direction finder
a highly directional aerial system that can be used to determine the direction of incoming radio signals, used esp as a navigation aid
future direction
A direction is the general way in which something develops or progresses .
direction indicator
a flashing light on a motor vehicle that indicates that the driver intends to turn or is turning to the left or right
sense of direction
Your sense of direction is your ability to know roughly where you are, or which way to go, even when you are in an unfamiliar place.
unexpected direction
A direction is the general way in which something develops or progresses .
in the same direction
A direction is the general line that someone or something is moving or pointing in.
radio direction finding
the act or process of finding the direction to a radio source by comparing the signal strength of antennae pointing in different directions
automatic direction finder
a type of radio compass that indicates automatically the direction of the station to which it is tuned , used esp. on aircraft
inner-directed
guided by one's own conscience and values rather than external pressures to conform
Chinese translation of 'direction'
direction
(dɪˈrɛkʃən)
n
(c) (= way)
(for travelling) 方向 (fāngxiàng) (个(個), gè)
(of development) 趋(趨)势(勢) (qūshì)
(u)[of film, play etc]导(導)演 (dǎoyǎn)
sense of direction方向感 (fāngxiànggǎn)
in the direction of (= towards) 朝 (cháo)
in all directions (= everywhere) 向四面八方 (xiàng sì miàn bā fāng)
Derived Forms
directionsn pl
(to get somewhere) 指路说(說)明 (zhǐlù shuōmíng)
(for doing something) 用法说(說)明 (yòngfǎ shuōmíng) : to ask for directions问(問)路 (wènlù) , directions for use使用说(說)明 (shǐyòng shuōmíng)
1 (noun)
Definition
the course or line along which a person or thing moves, points, or lies
We drove ten miles in the opposite direction.
Synonyms
way
Can you tell me the way to the station?
course
For nearly four hours we maintained our course northwards.
line
Walk in a straight line.
road
on the road to recovery
track
We set off once more, over a rough mountain track.
bearing
I'm flying on a bearing of ninety-three degrees.
route
the most direct route to the town centre
path
A group of reporters blocked his path.
The tornado wrecked everything in its path.
orientation
The orientation of the church is such that the front faces the square.
2 (noun)
They threatened a mass walk-out if the party did not change direction.
Synonyms
tendency
the government's tendency towards secrecy in recent years
attitude
bent
a bent for natural history
current
A strong current of nationalism is running through the country.
trend
a trend towards part-time employment
leaning
I always had a leaning towards sport.
drift
She was beginning to get his drift.
bias
There were fierce attacks on the BBC for alleged political bias.
orientation
The party is liberal and democratic in orientation.
tack
In desperation I changed tack.
tenor
The whole tenor of discussions has changed.
proclivity (formal)
Los Angeles's unique proclivity for experimental arty endeavour
3 (noun)
Definition
management or guidance
The house was built under the direction of his partner.
Synonyms
management
the responsibility for its day-to-day management
government
control
The first aim of his government would be to establish control over the republic's territory.
charge
administration
Standards in the administration of justice have degenerated.
leadership
What most people want to see is determined, decisive action and firm leadership.
command
In 1942 he took command of 108 Squadron.
guidance
They improve their performance under the guidance of professional coaches.
supervision
First-time licence holders have to work under supervision.
governance
A fundamental change in the governance of the country is the key to all other changes.
oversight
I had the oversight of their collection of manuscripts.
superintendence
Additional synonyms
in the sense of administration
Definition
management of the affairs of an organization
Standards in the administration of justice have degenerated.
Synonyms
management,
government,
running,
control,
performance,
handling,
direction,
conduct,
application,
command,
provision,
distribution,
governing,
administering,
execution,
overseeing,
supervision,
manipulation,
governance,
dispensation,
superintendence
in the sense of bearing
Definition
the position, as of a ship, fixed with reference to two or more known points