direction

noun

di·​rec·​tion də-ˈrek-shən How to pronounce direction (audio)
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
6
a
: a channel or direct course of thought or action
deciding which direction to take as a writer
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 adjective
directionlessness noun

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 gentle outer slopes extend out 140 miles away in different directions. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024 The housing market is being strained in multiple directions, but has remained hot overall. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 The next evening, the showcase pivoted in another, no less potent, direction, mixing up hip-hop with innovative sounds from Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, and more. Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 Though overlong at times, when focusing on Stanton, the series is a fresh take on the event that would change the direction of America — while drawing a direct throughline to our present-day political climate. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 But Booth and Herold got confused in the night and rowed in the wrong direction. Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 The 25th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is under the direction of executive producer David Jammy and the creative team from Done + Dusted, the Kennedy Center’s producing partner for the Mark Twain Prize since 2018. Paul Grein, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024 Both cars spun in a clockwise direction as a result of the impact. Daniel McFadin, arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2024 That was when the seeds of this issue’s exploration of the brand’s new direction took root. Paul Croughton, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'direction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see direct entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of direction was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near direction

Cite this Entry

“Direction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/direction. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

direction

noun
di·​rec·​tion də-ˈrek-shən How to pronounce direction (audio)
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 adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on direction

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