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
a
: a channel or direct course of thought or action
deciding which direction to take as a writer
b
: tendency, trend
c
: a guiding, governing, or motivating purpose
His life lacked direction.
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)
directionless
də-ˈrek-shən-ləs
adjective directionlessness noun
Synonyms
- behest
- charge
- command
- commandment
- decree
- dictate
- directive
- do
- edict
- imperative
- injunction
- instruction
- order
- word
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web But preliminary data suggests that by 2019, that number had moved in the opposite direction. 
WIRED, 16 Sep. 2022 Because of this, Westring said, mothers’ careers have become more aligned with child care while men’s have only gone more in the opposite direction. Jasmine Mithani, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2022 China’s central bank has gone in the opposite direction, making small cuts to two key interest rates last month. Rebecca Feng, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 Of course, things can change instantly and pivot in the opposite direction. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 Later on, the assailant walked in the opposite direction toward a nearby restaurant and threw a Molotov cocktail near the restaurant's window, however the window didn't break and the device didn't ignite according to police. Jeremy Yurow, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2022 The Allies moved in the opposite direction, losing colonies over the following decades. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 12 Sep. 2022 James initially pointed to a 42-yard completion in the second quarter in which Herbert delivered the ball down the right sideline over two retreating defenders to Keenan Allen, who had a safety closing in on him from the opposite direction. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 In the case of one popular Smash Bros. clone, Rivals of Aether, its creators have begun to move in the opposite direction: start with the mascot fighter game, then make traditional games as spinoffs. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2022 See More
WIRED, 16 Sep. 2022 Because of this, Westring said, mothers’ careers have become more aligned with child care while men’s have only gone more in the opposite direction. Jasmine Mithani, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2022 China’s central bank has gone in the opposite direction, making small cuts to two key interest rates last month. Rebecca Feng, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 Of course, things can change instantly and pivot in the opposite direction. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 Later on, the assailant walked in the opposite direction toward a nearby restaurant and threw a Molotov cocktail near the restaurant's window, however the window didn't break and the device didn't ignite according to police. Jeremy Yurow, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2022 The Allies moved in the opposite direction, losing colonies over the following decades. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 12 Sep. 2022 James initially pointed to a 42-yard completion in the second quarter in which Herbert delivered the ball down the right sideline over two retreating defenders to Keenan Allen, who had a safety closing in on him from the opposite direction. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 In the case of one popular Smash Bros. clone, Rivals of Aether, its creators have begun to move in the opposite direction: start with the mascot fighter game, then make traditional games as spinoffs. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see direct entry 1
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing direction
Kids Definition
direction
noun
di·rec·tion də-ˈrek-shən
dī-
1
: the path along which something moves, lies, or points
I'm coming from the opposite direction.
2
: an order or instruction to be followed
Read the directions first.
3
: instructions on how to get somewhere
4
: supervision, management He took over direction of the project.
direction
noun
1
as in instruction
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- instruction
- directive
- order
- do
- edict
- command
- dictate
- injunction
- imperative
- charge
- commandment
- behest
- decree
- word
- requirement
- mandate
- demand
- regulation
- law
- rule
- prescription
- counterorder
- precept
- ordinance
- statute
- countermand
- prescript
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appeal
- petition
- recommendation
- proposal
- suggestion
- plea
- urging
- entreaty
2
as in management
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something working under the close direction of the engineering supervisor Synonyms & Similar Words
- management
- supervision
- control
- operation
- administration
- handling
- oversight
- stewardship
- government
- guidance
- governance
- leadership
- regulation
- presidency
- running
- charge
- conduct
- superintendence
- care
- superintendency
- intendance
- agency
- custody
- protection
- logistics
- manipulation
- rulership
- engineering
- generalship
- tutelage
- trust
- keeping
- ward
- guardianship
- safekeeping
- aegis
- lap
- machination
- codirection
- coadministration
- comanagement
- egis
3
as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures Synonyms & Similar Words
- compass
- focus
- purpose
- polestar
- intention
- objective
- goal
- object
- lodestar
- criterion
- loadstar
- touchstone
- standard
- aim
- measure
- ambition
- benchmark
- yardstick
- aspiration
- target
- cynosure
- grade
- dream
- mark
- par
4
as in trend
a prevailing or general movement or inclination some older people worry about the overall direction that political discourse has taken lately Synonyms & Similar Words
- trend
- tide
- tendency
- wind
- current
- shift
- leaning
- drift
- curve
- turn
- run
- way
- swing
- tenor
- upside
- downside
- habit
- propensity
- turnabout
- custom
- countercurrent
- countertrend
- undercurrent
- undertow