direct

adjective

UK /dɪˈrekt/UK /daɪˈrekt/

1
going straight to a place and not stopping or changing direction on the way there
direct flights from Scotland to North America
There is a more direct route straight up the motorway.
The building had taken a direct hit and was completely destroyed.
Synonyms and related words
Describing movement towards a place or person
direct
advancing
oncoming
2
usually before nouninvolving only the two people or things mentioned and with no one or nothing else coming in between
Only a few of us have direct access to the files.
Employees have little direct contact with management.
Their study found a direct link between poverty and crime.
Companies have closed as a direct result of the new law.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of describing involvement and directness
directly
first-hand
vicarious
Collocates
Nouns frequently used with direct
▪ access, contact, intervention, involvement, link, relevance, result
3
exact
That’s a direct quote from the man himself.
Martin’s brother is his direct opposite in character.
The rewards will be in direct proportion to the work you put in.
Synonyms and related words
Exact and accurate
exact
accurate
perfect
4
usually before noundirect heat or light comes straight at a person or object and is not reflected or reduced in strength
Plant in a shady position away from direct sunlight.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe types of light
backlit
candlelit
direct
5
saying what you really think in a very clear and honest way
I love New Yorkers – they’re sharp, funny, and direct.
She’s refused to answer direct questions about her plans for the company.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe honest and sincere people and behaviour
honest
sincere
fine
6
only before nounrelated through your parents, grandparents etc and not through other relatives such as uncles or aunts
Steve says he’s a direct descendant of William Shakespeare.
Synonyms and related words
Describing or relating to relatedness
be distantly related to someone
close
direct

direct

adjective

US /dɪˈrekt/US /daɪˈrekt/

1
usually before nouninvolving only the two people or things mentioned and with no one or nothing else coming in between
Employees have little direct contact with management.
Only a few of us have direct access to the files.
Their study found a direct link between poverty and crime.
Companies have closed as a direct result of the new law.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of describing involvement and directness
directly
first-hand
vicarious
Collocates
Nouns frequently used with direct
▪ access, contact, intervention, involvement, link, relevance, result
2
going straight to a place and not stopping or changing direction on the way there
direct flights from San Francisco to Tokyo
There is a more direct route straight up the interstate.
The building had taken a direct hit and was completely destroyed.
Synonyms and related words
Describing movement towards a place or person
direct
advancing
oncoming
3
saying what you really think in a very clear and honest way
I love New Yorkers – they’re sharp, funny, and direct.
She’s refused to answer direct questions about her plans for the company.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe honest and sincere people and behavior
honest
sincere
fine
4
exact
That’s a direct quote from the man himself.
Martin’s brother is his direct opposite in character.
The rewards will be in direct proportion to the work you put in.
Synonyms and related words
Exact and accurate
nuanced
exact
accurate
5
usually before noundirect heat or light comes straight at a person or object and is not reflected or reduced in strength
Plant in a shady position away from direct sunlight.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe types of light
backlit
candlelit
direct
6
only before nounrelated through your parents, grandparents, etc. and not through other relatives such as uncles or aunts
Steve says he’s a direct descendant of William Shakespeare.
Synonyms and related words
Describing or relating to relatedness
be distantly related to someone
close
direct

direct

adverb

UK /dɪˈrekt/UK /daɪˈrekt/

1
going straight to a place and not stopping or changing direction on the way there
All the major airlines fly direct to Los Angeles.
Synonyms and related words
Describing movement towards a place or person
direct
advancing
oncoming
2
in a way that involves only the two people or things mentioned, with no one or nothing else coming in between
I decided to talk to the manager direct.
You can buy direct from the manufacturer.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of describing involvement and directness
directly
first-hand
vicarious

direct

adverb

US /dɪˈrekt/US /daɪˈrekt/

1
going straight to a place and not stopping or changing direction on the way there
All the major airlines fly direct to Los Angeles.
Synonyms and related words
Describing movement towards a place or person
direct
advancing
oncoming
2
in a way that involves only the two people or things mentioned, with no one or nothing else coming in between
I decided to talk to the manager direct.
You can buy direct from the manufacturer.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of describing involvement and directness
directly
first-hand
vicarious

direct

verb transitive

UK /dɪˈrekt/UK /daɪˈrekt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	direct
he/she/it	directs
present participle	directing
past tense	directed
past participle	directed

1
to aim something at a particular person or thing
direct something at/to/towards/into/against etc someone/something:
The incident directed public attention to pollution in the North Sea.
Our efforts are primarily directed towards helping children who live in poverty.
All of his energy was directed into his art.
increasing levels of violence directed against people and property
At the time, all the criticism was directed at her rather than me.
Synonyms and related words
To aim and to throw
throw
direct
aim
2
to control or organize how a person or group of people does something
The manager’s job is mainly to direct the activities of others.
With the help of advisers, the President will direct military operations.
Synonyms and related words
To create order in a system or activity
structure
reorganize
prioritize
3
formalto give someone instructions to do something
Take the pills as directed by your doctor.
The jury was directed to disregard everything Robinson had said.
direct (that):
The judge directed they should be found not guilty.
Synonyms and related words
To tell people what to do
order
order around
tell
4
theatrecinemato be in charge of making a film or programme, or getting a play ready for performance, especially by telling the actors and technical staff what to do
Synonyms and related words
Film-making and theatre production
animation
behind the scenes
cine-film
See alsoproduce
5
to tell or show someone the way to a place or where to go by giving them instructions or by pointing
A policeman was injured while directing traffic.
direct someone to something:
Could you direct me to the bus station?
Synonyms and related words
To tell people what to do
order
order around
tell

direct

verb transitive

US /dɪˈrekt/US /daɪˈrekt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	direct
he/she/it	directs
present participle	directing
past tense	directed
past participle	directed

1
to aim something at a particular person or thing
direct something at/to/toward/into/against etc. someone/something:
The incident directed public attention to pollution in the North Sea.
Our efforts are primarily directed toward helping children who live in poverty.
All of his energy was directed into his art.
increasing levels of violence directed against people and property
At the time, all the criticism was directed at her instead of me.
Synonyms and related words
To aim and to throw
throw
direct
aim
2
to control or organize how a person or group of people does something
The manager’s job is mainly to direct the activities of others.
With the help of advisers, the President will direct military operations.
Synonyms and related words
To create order in a system or activity
structure
reorganize
prioritize
3
formalto give someone instructions to do something
Take the pills as directed by your doctor.
The jury was directed to disregard everything Robinson had said.
direct (that):
The judge directed they be found not guilty.
Synonyms and related words
To tell people what to do
order
order around
tell
4
theatrecinemato be in charge of making a movie or program, or getting a play ready for performance, especially by telling the actors and technical staff what to do
Synonyms and related words
Movie-making and theater production
animation
behind the scenes
cut
See alsoproduce
5
to tell or show someone the way to a place or where to go by giving them instructions or by pointing
A policeman was injured while directing traffic.
direct someone to something:
Could you direct me to the bus station?
Synonyms and related words
To tell people what to do
order
order around
tell

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