adj
Meaning 1
Proceeding without deviation or interruption.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
direct
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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Received-Pronunciation: /daɪˈɹɛkt/
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Received-Pronunciation: [daɪ̯əˈɹɛkt]
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Received-Pronunciation: /dɪˈɹɛkt/
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Canada, General-American, UK: /daɪˈɹɛkt/
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Canada, General-American, UK: [daɪ̯əˈɹɛkt]
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Canada, General-American, UK: /dɪˈɹɛkt/
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Canada, General-American, UK: /dəˈɹɛkt/
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California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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Australian: /dɑeˈɹekt/
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Australian: /dɪˈɹekt/
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New-Zealand: /dəˈɹekt/
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rhymes with -ɛkt
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CMU ARPABET: D ER0 EH1 K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
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CMU ARPABET 2: D AY0 R EH1 K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
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CMU ARPABET 3: D IH0 R EH1 K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adj
Meaning 2
Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- the most direct route between two buildings
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 3
Straightforward; sincere.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 4
Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 5
In the line of descent; not collateral.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- a descendant in the direct line
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 6
In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east; in the order of the signs; not retrograde; said of the motion of a celestial body.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: astronomy, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 7
Pertaining to, or effected immediately by, action of the people through their votes instead of through one or more representatives or delegates.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: political-science, social-sciences
Examples
- direct nomination; direct legislation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 8
Having a single flight number.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, lifestyle, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, tourism, transport, travel
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 9
Not employing the law of the excluded middle or argument by contradiction.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, logic, mathematics, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: indirect
adv
Meaning 10
Directly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 11
To manage, control, steer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 12
To aim (something) at (something else).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- They directed their fire towards the men on the wall.
- He directed his question to the room in general.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 13
To point out to or show (somebody) the right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way; to refer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- He directed me to the left-hand road.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: point
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 14
To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to order.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- She directed them to leave immediately.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 15
To address (a letter) to a particular person or place.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective
Meaning 16
direct in spatial dimensions; proceeding without deviation or interruption; straight and short
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a direct route
- a direct flight
- a direct hit
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: indirect
adjective
Meaning 17
(of a current) flowing in one direction only
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- direct current
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: alternating
adjective
Meaning 18
straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a direct question
- a direct response
- a direct approach
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: indirect
adjective
Meaning 19
similar in nature or effect or relation to another quantity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a term is in direct proportion to another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other increases (or decreases)
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: inverse
adjective
Meaning 20
moving from west to east on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in the same direction as the Earth
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: retrograde
adjective
Meaning 21
in a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- lineal ancestors
- lineal heirs
- a direct descendant of the king
- direct heredity
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: lineal
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 22
lacking compromising or mitigating elements; exact
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- the direct opposite
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 23
having no intervening persons, agents, conditions
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- in direct sunlight
- in direct contact with the voters
- direct exposure to the disease
- a direct link
- the direct cause of the accident
- direct vote
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unmediated
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 24
in precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a direct quotation
- repeated their dialog verbatim
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: verbatim
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 25
being an immediate result or consequence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a direct result of the accident
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adverb
Meaning 26
without deviation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- the path leads directly to the lake
- went direct to the office
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: directly, straight
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 27
plan and direct (a complex undertaking)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- he masterminded the robbery
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: mastermind, engineer, organize, organise, orchestrate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: plan
Narrower terms: choreograph
verb
Meaning 28
specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: calculate, aim
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: intend, destine, designate, specify
verb
Meaning 29
command with authority
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- He directed the children to do their homework
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: order, tell, enjoin, say
Narrower terms: stet
verb
Meaning 30
give directions to; point somebody into a certain direction
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- I directed them towards the town hall
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: instruct, apprise, apprize
Narrower terms: talk down, point the way
verb
Meaning 31
put an address on (an envelope)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: address
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: label
Narrower terms: misdirect, misaddress, instrument, re-address
verb
Meaning 32
intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face
- criticism directed at her superior
- direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: target, aim, place, point
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: aim, take, train, take aim, direct
Narrower terms: address, range in, home in, zero in
verb
Meaning 33
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Please don't aim at your little brother!
- He trained his gun on the burglar
- Don't train your camera on the women
- Take a swipe at one's opponent
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: aim, take, train, take aim
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: position
Narrower terms: target, aim, place, direct, point, draw a bead on, hold, turn, swing, charge, level, sight
verb
Meaning 34
guide the actors in (plays and films)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: make, create
Narrower terms: stage direct
verb
Meaning 35
lead, as in the performance of a composition
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- conduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: conduct, lead
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: perform, execute, do
verb
Meaning 36
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: steer, maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre, point, head, guide, channelize, channelise
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: control, command
Narrower terms: dock, sheer, pull over, helm, crab, navigate, stand out, starboard, conn, pilot, channel, canalize, canalise, corner, tree, park
verb
Meaning 37
cause to go somewhere
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The explosion sent the car flying in the air
- She sent her children to camp
- He directed all his energies into his dissertation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: send
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: move, displace
Narrower terms: project, cast, contrive, throw, turn, divert, route, refer, redirect, airt, blow
verb
Meaning 38
take somebody somewhere
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- We lead him to our chief
- can you take me to the main entrance?
- He conducted us to the palace
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: lead, take, conduct, guide
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: beacon, hand, mislead, misdirect, misguide, lead astray, usher, show
verb
Meaning 39
be in charge of
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: manage, deal, care, handle
Narrower terms: hold, throw, have, make, give, guide, steer, head, lead, operate, run, administer
History
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”).
Across languages
Translations
173 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Albanian: drejtë — straight, constant, without interruption
- Arabic: مُبَاشِر (mubāšir) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Asturian: direutu — straight, constant, without interruption
- Belarusian: прамы́ (pramý) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Belarusian: непасрэ́дны (njepasrédny) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Bulgarian: пряк (prjak) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Bulgarian: непосре́дствен (neposrédstven) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Catalan: directe — straight, constant, without interruption
- Catalan: dret — straight, constant, without interruption
- Chinese Mandarin: 直接 (zhíjiē) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Wu Chinese: 直接 (8zeq-ciq) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Cornish: didro — straight, constant, without interruption
- Cornish: syth — straight, constant, without interruption
- Czech: přímý — straight, constant, without interruption
- Danish: direkte — straight, constant, without interruption
- Dutch: direct — straight, constant, without interruption
- Esperanto: rekta — straight, constant, without interruption
- Estonian: otse — straight, constant, without interruption
- Finnish: suora — straight, constant, without interruption
- French: direct — straight, constant, without interruption
- Friulian: dret — straight, constant, without interruption
- Galician: directo — straight, constant, without interruption
- German: direkt — straight, constant, without interruption
- German: unmittelbar — straight, constant, without interruption
- Greek: άμεσος (ámesos) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Greek: απευθείας (apeftheías) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Haitian Creole: dirèk — straight, constant, without interruption
- Hindi: सीधा (sīdhā) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Hungarian: közvetlen — straight, constant, without interruption
- Hungarian: egyenes — straight, constant, without interruption
- Hungarian: direkt — straight, constant, without interruption
- Interlingua: directe — straight, constant, without interruption
- Italian: diretto — straight, constant, without interruption
- Japanese: 直接の (chokusetsu no) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Korean: 직접적 (jikjeopjeok) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Korean: 직접의 (jikjeobui) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Latin: dīrēctus — straight, constant, without interruption
- Latin: prōrsus — straight, constant, without interruption
- Macedonian: директен (direkten) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Macedonian: непосреден (neposreden) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Māori: horipū — straight, constant, without interruption
- Māori: tohitū — straight, constant, without interruption
- Māori: pūkaka — straight, constant, without interruption
- Māori: arorangi — straight, constant, without interruption
- Norwegian Bokmål: direkte — straight, constant, without interruption
- Norwegian Nynorsk: direkte — straight, constant, without interruption
- Persian: مستقیم (mostaqim) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Persian: راست (râst) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Polish: bezpośredni — straight, constant, without interruption
- Portuguese: directo — straight, constant, without interruption
- Portuguese: direto — straight, constant, without interruption
- Romanian: direct — straight, constant, without interruption
- Russian: прямо́й (prjamój) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Russian: непосре́дственный (neposrédstvennyj) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Russian: постоя́нный (postojánnyj) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Scots: airt — straight, constant, without interruption
- Serbo-Croatian: дѝректан — straight, constant, without interruption
- Serbo-Croatian: не̏посредан — straight, constant, without interruption
- Serbo-Croatian: dìrektan — straight, constant, without interruption
- Serbo-Croatian: nȅposredan — straight, constant, without interruption
- Slovak: priamy — straight, constant, without interruption
- Slovene: direkten — straight, constant, without interruption
- Slovene: neposreden — straight, constant, without interruption
- Spanish: directo — straight, constant, without interruption
- Swedish: direkt — straight, constant, without interruption
- Swedish: omedelbar — straight, constant, without interruption
- Tajik: мустақим (mustaqim) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Turkish: doğrudan doğruya — straight, constant, without interruption
- Ukrainian: прями́й (prjamýj) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Ukrainian: безпосере́дній (bezposerédnij) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Urdu: سیدھا (sīdhā) — straight, constant, without interruption
- Welsh: uniongyrchol — straight, constant, without interruption
- Welsh: syth — straight, constant, without interruption
- Albanian: udhëzoj — to manage, control, steer
- Arabic: وَجَّه (wajjah) — to manage, control, steer
- Arabic: قَاد (qād) — to manage, control, steer
- Asturian: dirixir — to manage, control, steer
- Bulgarian: ръково́дя (rǎkovódja) — to manage, control, steer
- Bulgarian: управлявам (upravljavam) — to manage, control, steer
- Catalan: dirigir — to manage, control, steer
- Danish: dirigere — to manage, control, steer
- Danish: lede — to manage, control, steer
- Esperanto: gvidi — to manage, control, steer
- Esperanto: aldirekti — to manage, control, steer
- Finnish: ohjata — to manage, control, steer
- Galician: dirixir — to manage, control, steer
- German: beaufsichtigen — to manage, control, steer
- Ancient Greek: εὐθύνω (euthúnō) — to manage, control, steer
- Hebrew: ניהל (nehél) — to manage, control, steer
- Ido: direktar — to manage, control, steer
- Irish: deachtaigh — to manage, control, steer
- Irish: treoraigh — to manage, control, steer
- Kazakh: басқару (basqaru) — to manage, control, steer
- Latin: dominor — to manage, control, steer
- Middle English: dressen — to manage, control, steer
- Occitan: dirigir — to manage, control, steer
- Persian: اداره کردن (edâre kardan) — to manage, control, steer
- Persian: رایانیدن (râyânidan) — to manage, control, steer
- Polish: kierować — to manage, control, steer
- Portuguese: dirigir — to manage, control, steer
- Russian: управля́ть (upravljátʹ) — to manage, control, steer
- Sanskrit: राष्टि (rāṣṭi) — to manage, control, steer
- Slovak: riadiť — to manage, control, steer
- Spanish: dirigir — to manage, control, steer
- Spanish: direccionar — to manage, control, steer
- Swedish: leda — to manage, control, steer
- Swedish: styra — to manage, control, steer
- Ukrainian: керувати (keruvaty) — to manage, control, steer
- Arabic: أَخْرَجَ (ʔaḵraja) — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Esperanto: reĝisori — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Hungarian: rendez — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Indonesian: menyutradarai — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Kazakh: режиссерлік ету (rejisserlık etu) — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Polish: reżyserować — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Polish: wyreżyserować — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Russian: режиссировать (režissirovatʹ) — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Slovak: režírovať — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Spanish: dirigir — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Spanish: direccionar — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Swedish: regissera — to be in charge of the direction of a film
- Arabic: أَخْرَجَ (ʔaḵraja) — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- Danish: inscenesætte — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- French: mettre en scène — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- German: inszenieren — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- Hungarian: rendez — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- Norwegian: sette i scene — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- Polish: inscenizować — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- Polish: zainscenizować — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- Slovak: režírovať — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- Spanish: dirigir — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- Spanish: direccionar — to be in charge of the direction of a play
- Bulgarian: упътвам (upǎtvam) — to aim at
- Bulgarian: насочвам (nasočvam) — to aim at
- Catalan: adreçar — to aim at
- Danish: rette — to aim at
- Finnish: tähdätä — to aim at
- German: richten — to aim at
- German: zielen — to aim at
- Greek: απευθύνω (apefthýno) — to aim at
- Greek: απευθύνομαι (apefthýnomai) — to aim at
- Hebrew: כיוון (kivén) — to aim at
- Kazakh: көздеу (közdeu) — to aim at
- Kazakh: кезеу (kezeu) — to aim at
- Kazakh: бағыттау (bağyttau) — to aim at
- Kyrgyz: жөндөө (jöndöö) — to aim at
- Māori: whakangoto — to aim at
- Māori: whakakeko — to aim at
- Middle English: dressen — to aim at
- Persian: هدایت کردن — to aim at
- Polish: kierować — to aim at
- Portuguese: direcionar — to aim at
- Russian: направля́ть (napravljátʹ) — to aim at
- Russian: напра́вить (naprávitʹ) — to aim at
- Russian: наце́ливать (nacélivatʹ) — to aim at
- Russian: наце́лить (nacélitʹ) — to aim at
- Slovak: mieriť — to aim at
- Slovak: namieriť — to aim at
- Slovak: adresovať — to aim at
- Slovak: upriamiť — to aim at
- Spanish: dirigir — to aim at
- Spanish: direccionar — to aim at
- Swedish: rikta — to aim at
- Ukrainian: скеровувати (skerovuvaty) — to aim at
- French: ordonner — to order
- German: befehlen — to order
- Ancient Greek: συντάσσω (suntássō) — to order
- Plautdietsch: befälen — to order
- Polish: kazać — to order
- Polish: nakazać — to order
- Slovak: nariadiť — to order
- Slovak: nariaďovať — to order
- Spanish: dirigir — to order
- Spanish: direccionar — to order
Real reading context