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direct

di·rect
D d

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [dih-rekt, dahy-]
    • /dɪˈrɛkt, daɪ-/
    • /dəˈrekt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [dih-rekt, dahy-]
    • /dɪˈrɛkt, daɪ-/

Definitions of direct word

  • verb with object direct to manage or guide by advice, helpful information, instruction, etc.: He directed the company through a difficult time. 1
  • verb with object direct to regulate the course of; control: History is directed by a small number of great men and women. 1
  • verb with object direct to administer; manage; supervise: She directs the affairs of the estate. 1
  • verb with object direct to give authoritative instructions to; command; order or ordain: I directed him to leave the room. 1
  • verb with object direct to serve as a director in the production or performance of (a musical work, play, motion picture, etc.). 1
  • verb with object direct to guide, tell, or show (a person) the way to a place: I directed him to the post office. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of direct

First appearance:

before 1325
One of the 16% oldest English words
1325-75; Middle English direct (adj., adv.), directen (v.) (< Anglo-French) < Latin dīrēctus, dērēctus (the latter probably the orig. form, later reanalyzed as dī- di-2), past participle of dērigere to align, straighten, guide (dē- de- + -rigere, combining form of regere to guide, rule)

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Direct

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

direct popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

direct usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for direct

verb direct

  • control — Control of an organization, place, or system is the power to make all the important decisions about the way that it is run.
  • handle — a part of a thing made specifically to be grasped or held by the hand.
  • lead — to cover, line, weight, treat, or impregnate with lead or one of its compounds.
  • conduct — When you conduct an activity or task, you organize it and carry it out.
  • keep — to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own: If you like it, keep it. Keep the change.

adjective direct

  • straight — without a bend, angle, or curve; not curved; direct: a straight path.
  • shortest — having little length; not long.
  • through — in at one end, side, or surface and out at the other: to pass through a tunnel; We drove through Denver without stopping. Sun came through the window.
  • unswerving — to turn aside abruptly in movement or direction; deviate suddenly from the straight or direct course.
  • undeviating — to turn aside, as from a route, way, course, etc.

adverb direct

  • directly — in a direct line, way, or manner; straight: The path leads directly to the lake.
  • as the crow flies — If you say that a place is a particular distance away as the crow flies, you mean that it is that distance away measured in a straight line.

Antonyms for direct

verb direct

  • obey — to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of: to obey one's parents.
  • surrender — to yield (something) to the possession or power of another; deliver up possession of on demand or under duress: to surrender the fort to the enemy; to surrender the stolen goods to the police.
  • mislead — to lead or guide wrongly; lead astray.
  • abandon — If you abandon a place, thing, or person, you leave the place, thing, or person permanently or for a long time, especially when you should not do so.
  • give up — the quality or state of being resilient; springiness.

adjective direct

  • circuitous — A circuitous route is long and complicated rather than simple and direct.
  • vague — not clearly or explicitly stated or expressed: vague promises.
  • ambiguous — If you describe something as ambiguous, you mean that it is unclear or confusing because it can be understood in more than one way.
  • deceitful — If you say that someone is deceitful, you mean that they behave in a dishonest way by making other people believe something that is not true.
  • devious — If you describe someone as devious you do not like them because you think they are dishonest and like to keep things secret, often in a complicated way.

adverb direct

  • indirectly — not in a direct course or path; deviating from a straight line; roundabout: an indirect course in sailing.

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See also

Matching words

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