Skip to content

direct

/daɪˈɹɛkt/verb, adjective, adverb2 syllables

Direct means: straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action.

Synonyms for direct71

verb, as in direct the course; determine the direction of travelling

steer, maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre, point, head, guide, channelize, channelise

verb, as in plan and direct (a complex undertaking)

mastermind, engineer, organize, organise, orchestrate

verb, as in intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

verb, as in take somebody somewhere

verb, as in point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

aim, take, train, take aim

verb, as in lead, as in the performance of a composition

verb, as in specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

verb, as in cause to go somewhere

verb, as in put an address on (an envelope)

adjective, as in straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action

bluff, blunt, candid, forthright, frank, free-spoken, outspoken, plainspoken, point-blank, straight-from-the-shoulder, brutal, flat-footed, flatfooted, man-to-man
and 10 more, no-nonsense, plain, unvarnished, pointed, square, straightforward, straight, upfront, honest, honorable

adjective, as in direct in spatial dimensions; proceeding without deviation or interruption; straight and short

door-to-door, nonstop, point-blank, straightforward, undeviating, unswerving, through, straight

adjective, as in in a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child

lineal, matrilineal, matrilinear, patrilineal, patrilinear, unilateral, related

adjective, as in having no intervening persons, agents, conditions

unmediated, immediate

adjective, as in in precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker

verbatim, exact

adjective, as in lacking compromising or mitigating elements

adjective, as in being an immediate result or consequence

adverb, as in without deviation

also used for direct

explicit, patent, univocal

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of direct

What does direct mean?24

adjective

1

straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action“a direct question”

2

direct in spatial dimensions; proceeding without deviation or interruption; straight and short“a direct route”

3

in a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child“lineal ancestors”

4

having no intervening persons, agents, conditions“in direct sunlight”

5

in precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker“a direct quotation”

6

lacking compromising or mitigating elements“the direct opposite”

7

being an immediate result or consequence“a direct result of the accident”

8

moving from west to east on the celestial sphere; or — for planets — around the sun in the same direction as the Earth

9

similar in nature or effect or relation to another quantity“a term is in direct proportion to another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other increases (or decreases)”

10

(of a current) flowing in one direction only“direct current”

verb

1

direct the course; determine the direction of travelling

2

plan and direct (a complex undertaking)“he masterminded the robbery”

3

intend (something) to move towards a certain goal“He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face”

4

take somebody somewhere“we led him to our chief”

5

point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards“Please don't aim at your little brother!”

6

lead, as in the performance of a composition“conduct an orchestra”

7

specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

8

cause to go somewhere“The explosion sent the car flying in the air”

9

put an address on (an envelope)

10

command with authority“He directed the children to do their homework”

11

guide the actors in (plays and films)

12

govern or manage

13

give directions to; point somebody into a certain direction“I directed them towards the town hall”

adverb

1

without deviation“the path leads directly to the lake”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with direct?36

Show 40 near rhymes

All 36 rhymes for direct, grouped by syllable

Direct in a sentence

  • I stepped outside and was bathed in the harsh, direct sunlight.auxitt
  • In order to staunch the flow of blood, apply direct pressure to the wound._undertoad
  • Those simple and direct words finished off the candidate, leaving him speechless.jgauthier
  • Sorry to be so direct, but how much did you pay for this?CM
  • We want natural-sounding translations, not word-for-word direct translations.CN
  • In her speech, she emphasized the issues that had direct relevance to practice.astynk
  • Please store in a cool and dry place, out of direct sunlight.corbinjurgens
  • I admit, my wording is a bit direct.paper1n0

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of direct

as a verb

past tense
directed
present participle
directing
third-person singular
directs
past participle
directed