directs

present tense third-person singular of direct
1
as in funnels
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in orders
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal we quickly directed our attention toward the noise coming from the rear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
as in steers
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front the guide directed the tour through the museum with commendable efficiency and expertise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of directs Barry Jenkins directs, and at the premiere spoke about casting Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, the daughter of Simba (voiced by Donald Glover) and Nala (voiced by Beyoncé). Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024 Projects such as these have a real impact in building empathy toward victims, said Valerie Higgins, who directs the Sustainable Cultural Heritage Program at the American University of Rome. Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 10 Dec. 2024 Phylicia Rashad directs the new play from Jacobs-Jenkins, who wrote last season’s Tony Award-winning revival Appropriate. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Dec. 2024 Next year, the sets and costumes from Robin Hood will head to Birmingham, which Harrison also directs. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2024 Dan Erickson created Severance and executive produces with Ben Stiller (who also directs five episodes in season two), John Lesher, Jackie Cohn, Mark Friedman, Beau Willimon, Jordan Tappis, Sam Donovan, Caroline Baron, Richard Schwartz, Nicholas Weinstock, Scott and Arquette. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2024 Severance is executive produced by Ben Stiller, who also directs 5 episodes this season in addition to directors Uta Bresiewitz, Sam Donovan and Jessica Lee Gagné. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2024 No matter what the courts decide, however, state voting rights acts have shown to be a limited solution, notes Spencer Overton, a professor who directs George Washington University Law School's Multiracial Democracy Project. Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 6 Dec. 2024 Bathurst directs/Harrower wrote the limited series. Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directs
Verb
  • Alice is sent to the technician room, where the head technician instructs an employee to clean the bot so nobody can find out about the chaos the sim's malfunction created.
    Jordana Comiter, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Each face of the dreidel instructs a player to add gelt to the pot or take it from the pot.
    Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Authentic Brands Group now also steers Muhammad Ali’s and Elvis Presley’s publicity rights.
    Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Admittedly, 2024 was a challenging year in many respects; but now, in the last six weeks, the zodiac sign of Sagittarius takes over and steers us in new directions with its curiosity and drive.
    Glamour, Glamour, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The Luxury Institute, which conducts research specific to the luxury industry, confirms the high levels of employee discontent and adds context around the challenges front-line luxury goods associates are experiencing after the pandemic.
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Duncan said he was denied access to learn how Arizona conducts executions.
    Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • In the film, an unnamed bearded fellow at a bar, clearly meant to be Dave Van Ronk, tells him that Guthrie is at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Then, assess what the metric tells you to determine where changes would best be applied.
    Evan J. Schwartz, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The amendment would also significantly affect the institution of the chief justice, who oversees the federal court system and acts as the most senior justice.
    Tobi Raji The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 8 Dec. 2024
  • The state agency that oversees that drug registry did not respond to a request for comment.
    J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The Republican president-elect frequently casts the outgoing Democratic president as a feckless leader who shredded American credibility around the world during his four-year term.
    Aamer Madhani and Zeke Miller, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Despite being total opposites, the holiday spirit casts its spell over the two creatives in A Jingle Bell Mingle.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • In this stunning second title, Pan y Dulce, Ford seamlessly guides home bakers to crusty loaves, creamy Flan De Coco, vibrantly swirled Pan Payaso, and so much more.
    The Bon Appétit and Epicurious Staffs, Bon Appétit, 10 Dec. 2024
  • But there is no shortage of practical baking lessons here—this book guides the home baker with scientific precision.
    The Bon Appétit and Epicurious Staffs, Bon Appétit, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Ruth manages to solve that only for Remy and Mike to start fist fighting among the barrels and against the tanker, and then Gary (Meegwun Fairbrother) shows up just as Ruth gets a critical call about her husband’s medical condition.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024
  • The trick is that those outfits will be repurposed for next year’s pantomime season for one of the other pantos Harrison manages.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near directs

Cite this Entry

“Directs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directs. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on directs

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!