Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense directs, present participle directing, past tense, past participle directed
1. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Direct means moving towards a place or object, without changing direction and without stopping, for example in a journey.
They'd come on a direct flight from Athens.
...the direct route from Amman to Bombay.
Direct is also an adverb.
You can fly direct to Amsterdam from most British airports.
directlyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
The jumbo jet is due to fly the hostages directly back to London.
Synonyms: immediately, promptly, instantly, right away More Synonyms of direct
Synonyms: straight, unswervingly, without deviation, by the shortest route More Synonyms of direct
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If something is in direct heat or light, it is strongly affected by the heat or light, because there is nothingbetween it and the source of heat or light to protect it.
Medicines should be stored away from direct sunlight.
Direct illumination is harsh and unflattering.
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You use direct to describe an experience, activity, or system which only involves the people, actions, or thingsthat are necessary to make it happen.
He has direct experience of the process of privatisation.
He seemed to be in direct contact with the Boss.
He is expected to extend direct rule by the central government for another six months.
Synonyms: first-hand, personal, immediate More Synonyms of direct
Direct is also an adverb.
I can deal direct with your Inspector Kimble.
Write to us direct with details of your clubs.
directlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
We cannot measure pain directly. It can only be estimated.
The British could do nothing directly to help the Austrians.
Synonyms: immediately, promptly, instantly, right away More Synonyms of direct
Synonyms: in person, personally, at first hand More Synonyms of direct
4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You use direct to emphasize the closeness of a connection between two things.
[emphasis]
They were unable to prove that she died as a direct result of his injection.
His visit is direct evidence of the improvement in their relationship.
The minister denied there was a direct connection between the two issues.
Synonyms: clear, specific, plain, absolute More Synonyms of direct
5. adjective
If you describe a person or their behaviour as direct, you mean that they are honest and open, and say exactly what they mean.
He avoided giving a direct answer.
The new songs are more direct.
No direct reference was made to the call by the Foreign Office minister.
Synonyms: straightforward, open, straight, frank More Synonyms of direct
directlyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
At your first meeting, explain simply and directly what you hope to achieve.
But he then went on to refer very directly to the argument.
Synonyms: immediately, promptly, instantly, right away More Synonyms of direct
Synonyms: honestly, openly, frankly, plainly More Synonyms of direct
directnessuncountable noun
Using 'I' adds directness to a piece of writing.
'I like Rupert enormously,' she said, with a directness which made Pat flush.
Synonyms: honesty, candour, frankness, sincerity More Synonyms of direct
6. verb
If you direct something at a particular thing, you aim or point it at that thing.
I directed the extinguisher at the fire without effect. [V n + at/towards/on]
He directed the tiny beam of light at the roof. [V n at/towards/on n]
Synonyms: aim, point, turn, level More Synonyms of direct
7. verb
If your attention, emotions, or actions are directedat a particular person or thing, you are focusing them on that person or thing.
The learner's attention needs to be directed to the significant features. [beV-ed + to/towards]
Do not be surprised if, initially, she directs her anger at you. [VERB noun + at]
One assassination attempt was directed against the country's top three governmentleaders. [beV-ed against n]
[Also V n to n/-ing]
8. verb
If a remark or look is directedat you, someone says something to you or looks at you.
She could hardly believe the question was directed towards her. [beV-ed + towards]
The abuse was directed at the TV crews. [beV-ed + at]
Arnold directed a meaningful look at Irma. [VERB noun + at]
9. verb
If you direct someone somewhere, you tell them how to get there.
Could you direct them to Dr Lamont's office, please? [VERB noun + to]
Inside, a guard directed them to the right. [VERB noun to noun]
[Also V n adv/prep]
Synonyms: guide, show, lead, conduct More Synonyms of direct
10. verb
When someone directs a project or a group of people, they are responsible for organizing the people andactivities that are involved.
Christopher will direct day-to-day operations. [VERB noun]
...his coolness in directing the rescue of nine hostages. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: control, run, manage, lead More Synonyms of direct
direction (daɪrekʃən, dɪr-)uncountable noun
Organizations need clear direction.
The house was built under the direction of John's partner.
Synonyms: management, government, control, charge More Synonyms of direct
11. verb
When someone directs a film, play, or television programme, they are responsible for the way in whichit is performed and for telling the actors and assistants what to do.
He directed various TV shows. [VERB noun]
...her long-held ambition to direct as well as act. [VERB]
12. verb
If you are directedto do something, someone in authority tells you to do it.
[formal]
They have been directed to give special attention to the problem of poverty. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
The Bishop directed the faithful to stay at home. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
Synonyms: order, command, instruct, charge [formal] More Synonyms of direct
13. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you are a direct descendant of someone, you are related to them through your parents and your grandparents and so on.
She is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria.
14. See also direction, directly
More Synonyms of direct
English Easy Learning GrammarThe declarativeThe declarative is used to make statements. A statement is usually the expressionof a fact or of an opinion. Statements can be both positive or negative. Kate ... Read more
direct in British English
(dɪˈrɛkt, daɪ-)
verb(mainly tr)
1.
to regulate, conduct, or control the affairs of
2. (also intr)
to give commands or orders with authority to (a person or group)
he directed them to go away
3.
to tell or show (someone) the way to a place
4.
to aim, point, or cause to move towards a goal
5.
to address (a letter, parcel, etc)
6.
to address (remarks, words, etc)
to direct comments at someone
7. (also intr)
to provide guidance to (actors, cameramen, etc) in the rehearsal of a play or the filming of a motion picture
8. (also intr)
a.
to conduct (a piece of music or musicians), usually while performing oneself
b. another word (esp US) for conduct (sense 9)
adjective
9.
without delay or evasion; straightforward
a direct approach
10.
without turning aside; uninterrupted; shortest; straight
a direct route
11.
without intervening persons or agencies; immediate
a direct link
12.
honest; frank; candid
a direct answer
13. (usually prenominal)
precise; exact
a direct quotation
14.
diametrical
the direct opposite
15.
in an unbroken line of descent, as from father to son over succeeding generations
a direct descendant
16.
(of government, decisions, etc) by or from the electorate rather than through representatives
17. logic, mathematics
(of a proof) progressing from the premises to the conclusion, rather than eliminating the possibility of the falsehood of the conclusion
Compare indirect proof
18. astronomy
moving from west to east on the celestial sphere
Compare retrograde (sense 4a)
19.
a.
of or relating to direct current
b.
(of a secondary induced current) having the same direction as the primary current
20. music
a.
(of motion) in the same direction
motion (sense 9)
b.
(of an interval or chord) in root position; not inverted
adverb
21.
directly; straight
he went direct to the office
Derived forms
directness (diˈrectness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin dīrectus; from dīrigere to guide, from dis- apart + regere to rule
direct in American English
(dəˈrɛkt; also daɪˈrɛkt)
adjective
1.
by the shortest way, without turning or stopping; not roundabout; not interrupted; straight
a direct route
2.
honest and to the point; straightforward; frank
a direct answer
3.
with nothing or no one between; immediate; close, firsthand, or personal
direct contact, direct knowledge
4.
in an unbroken line of descent; lineal
5.
exact; complete; absolute
the direct opposite
6.
in the exact words of the speaker
a direct quotation
7.
not needing a mordant
said of certain dyes
8.
by or of action of the people through popular vote instead of through representatives or delegates
9. Astronomy
from west to east
see also retrograde
10. Ancient Mathematics
designating or of a relation between variables in which one increases or decreases with the other
a direct proportion
see also inverse
verb transitive
11.
to manage the affairs, course, or action of; guide; conduct; regulate
12.
to order or command with authority
13.
to turn or point (a person or thing) toward an object or goal; aim; head
14.
to tell (a person) the way to a place
15.
to address (words, remarks, etc.) to a specific person or persons, or in a specificdirection
16.
to write the name and address on (a letter, etc.)
17.
a.
to plan the action and effects of (a play, film, etc.) and to supervise and instruct (the actors and technicians) in the carrying out of such a plan
b.
to rehearse and conduct the performance of (a choir, band, etc.)
verb intransitive
18.
to give directions; make a practice of directing
19.
to be a director, as of a group of performers
adverb
20.
in a direct manner; directly
SIMILAR WORDS: comˈmand, ˈconˌduct
Derived forms
directness (diˈrectness)
noun
Word origin
ME < L directus, pp. of dirigere, to lay straight, direct < di-, apart, from + regere, to keep straight, rule: see regal
direct in Accounting
(dɪrɛkt)
adjective
(Accounting: Management)
Direct costs or labor are costs or labor directly related to the production of an item.
Direct costs can be easily attributed to a specific item or process, and they vary accordingto the main activity of the business.
Traditionally, companies distribute their overhead between different products inthe same ratio as the respective costs of direct labor in those products.
Direct costs or labor are costs or labor directly related to the production of an item.
Related wordsCompare direct costs to indirect costs that are not directly associated with the production of goods.
Examples of 'direct' in a sentence
direct
They tend to prompt actions rather than direct them.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
All calls to him yesterday were directed straight to his lawyers.
The Sun (2016)
More people need direct access to our fishermen before national tastes can change.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Its most significant application is likely to be through direct use of the technology to intervene in genetic defects in humans.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It prefers good light but not direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves.
The Sun (2017)
They haven't given me anything direct.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Straight and to your face, honest and direct.
The Sun (2016)
City spent the money to bring them on direct flights, or maybe they sent planes from the owner.
The Sun (2016)
After a few attempts to resolve this, I called my bank to cancel the two additional direct debits.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Other symptoms are more specific and give direct clues to the underlying distress.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
The richness of the cave fauna is a direct result of the floods.
Chapman, Philip Caves and Cave Life (1993)
With an indigenous firm there would be no foreign direct investment.
Maurice D. Levi International Finance: The markets and financial management of multinational business. (1983)
Singer certainly directs the film with aplomb.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The objective case should be used as a direct object.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
The influence of groups with direct interests in particular consumer and industrial goods can be considerable.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
Paying by cheque rather than direct debit could result in an extra processing fee.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Those that are shared can only be viewed by people given a direct web link.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We only do direct sunlight for two or three weeks a year.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Each also has a pool and direct access to the sand.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The direct approach is what is needed right now.
The Sun (2015)
An increase in direct winter flights from these shores has also helped.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Thus one can prove that women have always directed governments.
Lucy Moore Liberty: The Lives and Times of Six Women in Revolutionary France (2006)
Western intelligence agencies are directing their attention and resources to the region.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There was plainly a close link between the directed hours and pay.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Is it possible to fly direct from there?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The light fixtures were the old style that directed the light straight up.
Christianity Today (2000)
He also had some acting and directing experience as a student.
Susie Gilbert and Jay Shir A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since1945 (2003)
This way they can be direct and honest about their problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This form can also be passed by direct contact from person to person.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This would mean that direct debits would continue to be paid.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He played the cover drive as if he was the direct descendant of Zeus.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
direct
British English: direct /dɪˈrɛkt; daɪ-/ ADJECTIVE
Direct means moving towards a place or object, without changing direction and without stopping, for example in a journey.
They'd come on a direct flight from Moscow.
American English: direct
Arabic: مُبَاشِرَةً
Brazilian Portuguese: direto
Chinese: 直接的
Croatian: izravan
Czech: přímý
Danish: direkte
Dutch: direct
European Spanish: directo
Finnish: suora
French: direct
German: direkt
Greek: άμεσος
Italian: diretto
Japanese: 率直な
Korean: 직행의
Norwegian: direkte
Polish: bezpośredni
European Portuguese: direto
Romanian: direct
Russian: прямой
Latin American Spanish: directo
Swedish: rättfram
Thai: ตรงไป
Turkish: kestirme
Ukrainian: прямий
Vietnamese: trực tiếp
British English: direct /dɪˈrɛkt; daɪ-/ VERB
If you direct something at a particular thing, you aim or point it at that thing.
I directed the extinguisher at the fire without effect.
American English: direct
Arabic: يُوجه
Brazilian Portuguese: dirigir administrar
Chinese: 指挥
Croatian: usmjeriti
Czech: směrovat
Danish: rette mod
Dutch: richten op
European Spanish: dirigir
Finnish: ohjata
French: diriger
German: leiten fuehren
Greek: διευθύνω
Italian: dirigere
Japanese: 監督する
Korean: 지시하다
Norwegian: lede
Polish: skierować
European Portuguese: dirigir administrar
Romanian: a orienta
Russian: указывать
Latin American Spanish: dirigir
Swedish: leda
Thai: มุ่งความสนใจไปที่
Turkish: yönetmek
Ukrainian: спрямовувати
Vietnamese: chỉ đạo
All related terms of 'direct'
direct cost
a cost that can be related directly to the production of a product or to a particular function or service
direct dye
any of a number of dyes that can be applied without the use of a mordant . They are usually azo dyes applied to cotton or rayon from a liquid bath containing an electrolyte such as sodium sulphate
direct hit
If a place suffers a direct hit , a bomb, bullet , or other missile that has been aimed at it lands exactly in that place, rather than some distance away .
direct mail
Direct mail is a method of marketing which involves companies sending advertising material directly to people who they think may be interested in their products .
direct rule
Direct rule is a system in which a central government rules an area which has had its own parliament or law-making organization in the past .
direct tax
A direct tax is a tax which a person or organization pays directly to the government , for example income tax.
direct access
a method of reading data from a computer file without reading through the file from the beginning as on a disk or drum
direct action
Direct action involves doing something such as going on strike or demonstrating in order to put pressure on an employer or government to do what you want , instead of trying to talk to them.
direct debit
If you pay a bill by direct debit , you give permission for the company who is owed money to transfer the correct amount from your bank account into theirs, usually every month .
direct effect
The effect of one thing on another is the change that the first thing causes in the second thing.
direct input
a device, such as a keyboard , used to insert data directly into a computerized system
direct labour
work that is an essential part of a production process or the provision of a service
direct method
a method of teaching a foreign language with minimal use of the pupil's native language and of formal grammar
direct motion
the movement of a celestial body (as seen from the earth) from east to west across the sky
direct object
In grammar , the direct object of a transitive verb is the noun group which refers to someone or something directly affected by or involved in the action performed by the subject . For example, in 'I saw them yesterday ', 'them' is the direct object. Compare → indirect object .
direct result
A result is something that happens or exists because of something else that has happened.
direct rival
Your rival is a person, business, or organization who you are competing or fighting against in the same area or for the same things.
direct sales
selling goods directly to consumers rather than through retailers, usually by mail order, direct-mail shot , newspaper advertising , door-to-door selling, telephone selling, the internet , or television home-shopping channels
direct speech
In grammar , direct speech is speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used.
direct train
A train is a number of carriages , cars , or trucks which are all connected together and which are pulled by an engine along a railway . Trains carry people and goods from one place to another.
direct address
a computer memory address which specifies the location of data to be used as an operand
direct conflict
Conflict is serious disagreement and argument about something important. If two people or groups are in conflict , they have had a serious disagreement or argument and have not yet reached agreement .
direct contact
Contact involves meeting or communicating with someone, especially regularly.
direct coupling
conductive coupling between electronic circuits, as opposed to inductive or capacitive coupling
direct current
A direct current is an electric current that always flows in the same direction. The abbreviation → DC is also used.
direct deposit
A direct deposit is money transferred directly into a bank account.
direct dialling
a service which allows telephone users to make international calls without operator assistance
direct evidence
evidence , usually the testimony of a witness , directly relating to the fact in dispute
direct insurer
A direct insurer is an insurance company that sells its policies directly to customers without using intermediaries .
direct lighting
a lighting system in which a large proportion (at least 90 per cent ) of the light is directed downwards
direct message
(on a social network ) a message that can be read only by one or more named recipients
direct primary
a primary in which voters directly select the candidates who will run for office
direct question
a question asked in direct speech , such as Why did you come ?
direct-reading
(of an instrument) calibrated so that a given quantity to be measured can be read directly off the scale without the need of a multiplying constant
direct selling
selling goods directly to consumers rather than through retailers, usually by mail order, direct-mail shot, newspaper advertising , door-to-door selling, telephone selling, the internet , or television home-shopping channels
direct taxation
Direct taxation is a system in which a government raises money by means of direct taxes .
direct traffic
Traffic refers to all the vehicles that are moving along the roads in a particular area.
direct democracy
Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections .
direct discourse
In grammar , direct discourse is speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used.
direct influence
To have an influence on people or situations means to affect what they do or what happens .
direct injection
Direct injection is a diesel engine injection system in which the fuel is injected directly into the engine cylinder .
direct involvement
Your involvement in something is the fact that you are taking part in it.
direct marketing
Direct marketing is the same as → direct mail .
direct proportion
You use direct to emphasize the closeness of a connection between two things.
direct free kick
a free kick awarded to a team as the result of a foul by an opposing player and from which a goal can be scored directly , without the ball being touched by another player
direct intervention
Intervention is the act of intervening in a situation.
direct-mail shot
the posting of unsolicited sales literature to potential customers ' homes or business addresses
direct the jury
In a court of law, the jury is the group of people who have been chosen from the general public to listen to the facts about a crime and to decide whether the person accused is guilty or not.
direct grant school
(in Britain , formerly ) a school financed by endowment , fees , and a state grant conditional upon admittance of a percentage of nonpaying pupils nominated by the local education authority
direct memory access
a process in which data may be moved directly to or from the main memory of a computer system by operations not under the control of the central processing unit