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

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 typical migration route for humpback whales can approach 5,000 miles in a single direction, making this one’s journey close to two times that of most whales. —Aj Willingham, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024

Still, there are some Elden Ring players that think this is a poor direction for FromSoft to go and accuse them of trend-chasing. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

For optimal coverage, spread the seeds first in a north-to-south direction and then in an east-to-west direction to create a checkerboard-like pattern. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2024

The alignment of the stones corresponds with the direction of the southernmost moonrise. —Carlie Procell, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see direct entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing direction

• a step in the right direction
• co-direction
• direction angle
• direction cosine
• direction finder
• in the direction of (something)
• sense of direction
• stage direction

Kids 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

directionless

-ləs 

adjective