direct

di·rect

Use direct in a sentence

adjective

The definition of direct is something that is the shortest way or someone honest and to the point.
1. An example of direct is a non-stop plane trip from Los Angeles to Seattle.
2. An example of direct is someone telling a friend they would look better wearing make up.

verb

To direct is defined as to supervise, manage or point towards.
An example of to direct is instructing a performer what to do next in a play.

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"direct." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 11 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Direct>.

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direct. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Direct

direct

by the shortest way, without turning or stopping; not roundabout; not interrupted; straight: a direct route
honest and to the point; straightforward; frank: a direct answer
with nothing or no one between; immediate; close, firsthand, or personal: direct contact, direct knowledge, direct marketing
in an unbroken line of descent; lineal
exact; complete; absolute: the direct opposite
in the exact words of the speaker: a direct quotation
not needing a mordant: said of certain dyes
by or of action of the people through popular vote instead of through representatives or delegates
Astron. from west to east
Math. designating or of a relation between variables in which one increases or decreases with the other: a direct proportion

Origin of direct

Middle English from Classical Latin directus, past participle of dirigere, to lay straight, direct from di-, apart, from + regere, to keep straight, rule: see regal

to manage the affairs, course, or action of; guide; conduct; regulate
to order or command with authority
to turn or point (a person or thing) toward an object or goal; aim; head
to tell (a person) the way to a place
to address (words, remarks, etc.) to a specific person or persons, or in a specific direction
to write the name and address on (a letter, etc.)
1. 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
2. to rehearse and conduct the performance of (a choir, band, etc.)

to give directions; make a practice of directing
to be a director, as of a group of performers

in a direct manner; directly

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MLA Style

"direct." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 11 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Direct>.

APA Style

direct. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Direct

direct

verb

di·rect·ed, di·rect·ing, di·rects

verb

transitive

a. To manage or regulate the business or affairs of; be in charge of: direct a government agency.
b. To supervise or oversee (an activity or process): direct the building of a new road. See Synonyms at conduct.
a. To give guidance and instruction to (actors or musicians, for example) in the rehearsal, performance, or production of a work.
b. To supervise the performance or production of: direct a play; direct a film.
To give an order to; command: directed the student to answer.
To show or indicate the way for: directed us to the airport.
a. To cause to move in a certain direction or toward a certain object; turn or point: directed the light toward the end of the hall.
b. To concentrate or focus (one's sight or attention, for example) on a particular object or activity. See Synonyms at aim.
a. To indicate the intended recipient on (a letter, for example).
b. To address or adapt (remarks, for example) to a specific person, audience, or purpose.

verb

intransitive

To give commands or directions.
To conduct a performance or rehearsal.

noun

Law

See direct examination.

adjective

Proceeding without interruption in a straight course or line; not deviating or swerving: a direct route.
Straightforward and candid; not devious or ambiguous: a direct response.
Having no intervening persons, conditions, or agencies; immediate: direct contact; direct sunlight.
Effected by action of the voters, rather than through elected representatives or delegates: direct elections.
Being of unbroken descent; lineal: a direct descendant of the monarch.
Consisting of the exact words of the writer or speaker: a direct quotation; direct speech.
Lacking compromising or mitigating elements; absolute: direct opposites.
Mathematics Varying in the same manner as another quantity, especially increasing if another quantity increases or decreasing if it decreases.
Astronomy Designating west-to-east motion of a planet in the same direction as the sun's apparent annual movement with respect to the stars.
Sports Being a direct free kick.

adverb

Straight; directly.

Origin of direct

Middle English directen from Latin dīrigere dīrēct- to give direction to dī-, dis- apart ; see dis- . regere to guide ; see reg- in Indo-European roots.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"direct." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 11 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Direct>.

APA Style

direct. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Direct

Adjective

(comparative directer, superlative directest)

Straight, constant, without interruption.
Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end.
the most direct route between two buildings
Straightforward; sincere.
Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous.
In the line of descent; not collateral.
a descendant in the direct line
(astronomy) In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east; in the order of the signs; not retrograde; said of the motion of a celestial body.

Adverb

(comparative more direct, superlative most direct)

Directly.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present directs, present participle directing, simple past and past participle directed)

To manage, control, steer.
to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army
To aim (something) at (something else).
They directed their fire towards the men on the wall.
He directed his question to the room in general.
To point out or show to (somebody) the right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way.
He directed me to the left-hand road.
To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to order.
She directed them to leave immediately.
(dated) To put a direction or address upon; to mark with the name and residence of the person to whom anything is sent.
to direct a letter

Anagrams

Origin

From Latin dīrectus, perfect passive participle of dīrigō (“straighten, direct”), from dis- (“asunder, in pieces, apart, in two”) + regō (“make straight, rule”).

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"direct." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 11 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Direct>.

APA Style

direct. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Direct

direct - Legal Definition

v

To order or cause a person or entity to carry out a course of action; more generally, to govern an enterprise or activity. Of a judge, the giving of a verbal instruction to a witness or jury to behave in a certain way, as in, “the witness is directed to answer yes or no to the questions” or “the jury is directed to disregard the defendant’s outburst.”