guide
1 of 2noun
ˈgīd 
1
a
: one that leads or directs another's way
needed a guide for the safari
b
: a person who exhibits and explains points of interest
The museum guide was very helpful.
c
: something that provides a person with guiding information
used the stars as a guide to find their way back
d
: signpost sense 1
e
: a person who directs another's conduct or course of life
He was my mentor and guide during the early years of my career.
2
a
: a device for steadying or directing the motion of something
The jigsaw was equipped with a guide.
b
: a ring or loop for holding the line of a fishing rod in position
c
: a sheet or a card with projecting tab for labeling inserted in a card index to facilitate reference
3
: a member of a unit on whom the movements or alignments of a military command are regulated —used especially in commands
guide right
guide
2 of 2verb
guided; guiding
transitive verb
1
: to act as a guide to : direct in a way or course
He guided us around the city.
2
a
: to direct, supervise, or influence usually to a particular end
You'll need a lawyer to guide you through the legal system.
b
: to superintend the training or instruction of
A respected educator guided his studies.
intransitive verb
: to act or work as a guide
guider noun
Synonyms
Noun
- attendant
- companion
- escort
- guard
Verb
- coach
- counsel
- lead
- mentor
- pilot
- shepherd
- show
- tutor
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun We hired a guide for our trip to the mountains. He was my friend and my guide in the early years of my career. They used the stars as a guide to find their way back. If past experience is any guide, we're in for a long and difficult project. Verb He guided us around the city. He claims that there were unknown forces guiding the outcome of the election. He carefully guided the ship into the harbor. She guided her team to victory. Let your conscience guide you. Her example helped to guide me toward a career in medicine. In his work, he has always been guided by a desire to help other people. programs to help guide teenagers away from drug use She had a guiding influence on my decision. His guiding principle when he built his house was that bigger was better. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 Since the Queen’s death last week, many in the West have heaped praise upon the woman who for 70 years served as a beacon of stability and duty, a constant guide during a period of radical shifts. Meena Venkataramanan, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2022 Soon, the trio are inseparable, with Patrick appointing himself cultural guide and whisking them off to the opera to soak up some Verdi. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2022 The book went on to be named the 2021 National Outdoor Book Award winner in the outdoor adventure guide category and was officially published by Mountaineers earlier this year. Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2022 Their calculation is a sophisticated prediction based on known risks and can be a useful guide for policy makers and public health officials. Emma Egan, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2022 Through a YouTube video posted on August 19, MBB delivered the ultimate guide on how to nail the off-duty, glowy goddess aesthetic. Seventeen, 25 Aug. 2022 Our ultimate flooring guide walks you through all the options, including pros, cons and basic pricing information for the best types of flooring for your home. Dan Diclerico, Good Housekeeping, 12 Aug. 2022 Without any more delay, check out the ultimate guide to all the best gifts for plat lovers below! Angela Belt, House Beautiful, 5 Aug. 2022 Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2022 According to the lawsuit, the Justice Department hasn’t yet accessed messages that were on the phone and is in the process of obtaining a second search warrant that would guide that process. Jan Wolfe, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 Given the ongoing global pandemic, supply chain issues and an overall turbulent economy, management consultants that can guide organizations through disruptions are essential. Laura Smythe, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 As soon as next week, the district’s board members hope to adopt a policy that will guide them in making decisions on whether to return those books or remove them permanently. Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 Aug. 2022 Such inaccurate assumptions, as well as biases built into some algorithms that guide how care is provided, are detrimental to patients. David J. Skorton And Henri R. Ford, STAT, 18 July 2022 Just as surface tension can pull water into spherical beads on a glass surface, so too can the physical tensions within an embryo set up patterns that guide growth and gene activity in developing tissues. Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2022 The report's main job is to provide data and analysis that will guide decision-making about public art moving forward, Muney Moore said. Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 7 July 2022 But though sizing differs from brand to brand, there are two basic measurements that will guide you regardless: the band size, and the cup size. Charlotte Owen, Vogue, 1 July 2022 See More
Noun
Your ultimate SoCal NFL sports bar guide: Find out where to watch your team. Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 Since the Queen’s death last week, many in the West have heaped praise upon the woman who for 70 years served as a beacon of stability and duty, a constant guide during a period of radical shifts. Meena Venkataramanan, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2022 Soon, the trio are inseparable, with Patrick appointing himself cultural guide and whisking them off to the opera to soak up some Verdi. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2022 The book went on to be named the 2021 National Outdoor Book Award winner in the outdoor adventure guide category and was officially published by Mountaineers earlier this year. Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2022 Their calculation is a sophisticated prediction based on known risks and can be a useful guide for policy makers and public health officials. Emma Egan, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2022 Through a YouTube video posted on August 19, MBB delivered the ultimate guide on how to nail the off-duty, glowy goddess aesthetic. Seventeen, 25 Aug. 2022 Our ultimate flooring guide walks you through all the options, including pros, cons and basic pricing information for the best types of flooring for your home. Dan Diclerico, Good Housekeeping, 12 Aug. 2022 Without any more delay, check out the ultimate guide to all the best gifts for plat lovers below! Angela Belt, House Beautiful, 5 Aug. 2022 Verb
In May, the task force — which included Uti Hawkins, the union’s vice president, and Rocky Torres, who oversees special education for SPS — signed off on a set of recommendations that would guide bargaining. Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2022 According to the lawsuit, the Justice Department hasn’t yet accessed messages that were on the phone and is in the process of obtaining a second search warrant that would guide that process. Jan Wolfe, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 Given the ongoing global pandemic, supply chain issues and an overall turbulent economy, management consultants that can guide organizations through disruptions are essential. Laura Smythe, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 As soon as next week, the district’s board members hope to adopt a policy that will guide them in making decisions on whether to return those books or remove them permanently. Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 Aug. 2022 Such inaccurate assumptions, as well as biases built into some algorithms that guide how care is provided, are detrimental to patients. David J. Skorton And Henri R. Ford, STAT, 18 July 2022 Just as surface tension can pull water into spherical beads on a glass surface, so too can the physical tensions within an embryo set up patterns that guide growth and gene activity in developing tissues. Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2022 The report's main job is to provide data and analysis that will guide decision-making about public art moving forward, Muney Moore said. Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 7 July 2022 But though sizing differs from brand to brand, there are two basic measurements that will guide you regardless: the band size, and the cup size. Charlotte Owen, Vogue, 1 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English gide, guide, from Anglo-French, from Old Occitan guida, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English wītan to look after, witan to know — more at wit
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing guide
Kids Definition
guide 1 of 2
noun
ˈgīd
: someone or something (as a book) that leads, directs, or shows the right way
guide
2 of 2verb
guided; guiding
1
: to show the way to
She'll guide you on your tour.
2
: to direct or control the course of
The coach guided the team to victory.
3
: direct entry 1 sense 6, instruct
Let your conscience guide you.
Medical Definition
guide
noun
ˈgīd
: a grooved director for a surgical probe or knife
guide 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to show
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed the pastry chef guided her through the creation of the wedding cake, showing her how to ice the layers, fashion the elaborate decorations, and assemble the whole shebang Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- show
- accompany
- coach
- lead
- steer
- mentor
- teach
- inform
- tutor
- counsel
- shepherd
- escort
- pilot
- train
- walk through
- instruct
- supervise
- direct
- see
- enlighten
- engineer
- brief
- chaperone
- godfather
- oversee
- sway
- convoy
- drill
- superintend
- attend
- squire
- chaperon
- school
- inculcate
- nurture
- indoctrinate
- foster
- cultivate
2
as in to supervise
to look after and make decisions about thought the new superintendent would guide the school system well Synonyms & Similar Words
- supervise
- oversee
- control
- conduct
- manage
- handle
- operate
- regulate
- govern
- direct
- run
- steward
- steer
- protect
- keep
- watch over
- lead
- administer
- superintend
- tend
- carry on
- watch
- administrate
- safeguard
- guard
- pilot
- overlook
- preside (over)
- mind
- comanage
- codirect
- care (for)
- micromanage
- stage-manage
3
as in to steer
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front would be happy to guide you folks to the historic part of town Synonyms & Similar Words
- steer
- accompany
- lead
- show
- direct
- usher
- route
- conduct
- escort
- pilot
- marshal
- precede
- marshall
- see
- chaperone
- control
- convoy
- manage
- chaperon
- attend
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- follow
- trail
- dog
- tail
- shadow
- hound
- tailgate
guide
2 of 2noun
as in companion
one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy followed our guide through the dangerous mountain trails Synonyms & Similar Words
- companion
- guard
- escort
- attendant
- leader
- pilot
- sidekick
- chaperone
- squire
- chaperon
- honor guard
- conductor
- convoy
- shadow
- courier
- outrider
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of guide are engineer, lead, pilot, and steer. While all these words mean "to direct in a course or show the way to be followed," guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.
guided the scouts through the cave
The synonyms engineer and guide are sometimes interchangeable, but engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan.
engineered his son's election to the governorship
Although the words lead and guide have much in common, lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.
led his team to victory
In some situations, the words pilot and guide are roughly equivalent. However, pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.
piloted the bill through the Senate
While in some cases nearly identical to guide, steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.
steered the ship through a narrow channel