Definitions
01to show the way
A2 · Elementary
v. to show someone how to get to a place.
v. to guide or point out the way to a destination.
“Could you direct me to the nearest train station?”
“The concierge was happy to direct the tourists to the hidden courtyard that most guidebooks overlook.”
Usage
Often used with a person as the direct object and a prepositional phrase starting with 'to'.
Antonyms
02to manage or lead
B1 · Intermediate
v. to be in charge of a project, a group of people, or a film.
v. to manage, control, or supervise the operations of an organisation or the creative aspects of a production.
“She was chosen to direct the new summer blockbuster movie.”
“After years of assisting others, he finally had the opportunity to direct a research project of his own design.”
Antonyms
03to give an order
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law Formal
v. to tell someone exactly what they must do in an official way.
v. to instruct with authority; to issue an official order or requirement.
“The judge directed the jury to ignore the last statement.”
“The CEO directed all department heads to submit their revised budget proposals by the end of the fiscal quarter.”
Usage
Commonly follows the pattern 'direct someone to do something'.
04straight or non-stop
A2 · Elementary travel
adj. going straight to a place without stopping or changing direction.
adj. proceeding from one point to another in time or space without deviation or interruption.
“Is there a direct flight from London to New York?”
“The new high-speed rail link provides a direct connection between the capital and the northern industrial hubs.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
05honest and clear
B1 · Intermediate
adj. saying exactly what you mean in a clear and honest way.
adj. straightforward and sincere in communication; lacking ambiguity or hidden meaning.
“I like her because she is very direct and never wastes time.”
“The negotiator's direct approach was initially startling, but it ultimately saved both parties weeks of unnecessary posturing.”
Synonyms
06immediate cause
B2 · Upper Intermediate Science Academic
adj. happening as a first result of something, with nothing in between.
adj. having an immediate relationship or being the primary cause without intervening factors.
“The power cut was a direct result of the heavy storm.”
“The scientist argued that there was a direct correlation between the rising temperatures and the decline in local bird populations.”
07without stopping
B1 · Intermediate
adv. going straight to a place without stopping anywhere else.
adv. by a straight route or without any intermediary agents.
“We went direct to the hotel after our long flight.”
“The goods are shipped direct from the factory to the customer to reduce overhead costs.”
Usage
In modern English, 'directly' is more common as an adverb, but 'direct' is used in specific contexts like travel and shipping.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “direct” in context.
Confusables
Direct describes a path or connection without stops, while directly describes the timing or the exactness of an action.
RememberDirect is the route; directly is the clock.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dīrēctus, perfect passive participle of dīrigō (“straighten, direct”), from dis- (“asunder, in pieces, apart, in two”) + regō (“make straight, rule”). Compare dress. Doublet of derecho. For the meaning development compare with Russian напра́вить (naprávitʹ, “to direct, to turn, to aim, to level, to point”), отпра́вить (otprávitʹ, “to send, to dispatch, to forward”) connected with пра́вить (právitʹ, “to govern, to rule, to drive, to steer”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADVERB
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/direct
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0