direction

direction — noun

1. The line or side along which a person, vehicle, or thing travels, faces, or poin

1.nounA2
Definition

The line or side along which a person, vehicle, or thing travels, faces, or points — for example, north, south, left, right, or towards a particular landmark.

Example

Captain Okafor changed the ship's direction when a strong east wind pushed it off course.

collocation: change direction

Hassan pointed in the direction of the mountain when the tourist asked for the trail.

collocation: point in the direction of

Common collocations
  • change direction
  • point in the direction of
  • opposite direction
  • direction of travel
  • same direction
Synonyms
  • way

    more general; 'way' can also mean route or method

  • course

    suggests a planned or steady path, especially for ships or aircraft

  • bearing

    formal; used in navigation or surveying

Grammar Patterns

direction + of + noun

in + direction

Usage Note

Often used with prepositions in, from, and of. Can be countable (a direction, two directions) or uncountable (a sense of direction).

Common Mistakes

I went to the direction of the store.
I went in the direction of the store.
direction requires the preposition 'in' when talking about movement toward something.

2. A spoken or written explanation of how to get from where you are to another plac

2.nounA2
Definition

A spoken or written explanation of how to get from where you are to another place, usually involving street names, landmarks, and turns.

Example

Paloma asked the shopkeeper for directions to the train station.

collocation: ask for directions

Near the visitor centre, a colourful wall map showed clear directions to the national park's campsites.

collocation: give directions

Common collocations
  • ask for directions
  • give directions
  • directions to
  • get directions
  • follow directions
Synonyms
  • instructions

    broader; can refer to any step-by-step guidance, not just routes

  • route

    focuses on the road or path itself rather than the spoken/written guide

Grammar Patterns

ask for directions

give someone directions

directions to + place

Usage Note

Almost always in the plural form directions when referring to route instructions. 'Direction' (singular) for this sense is rare and sounds old-fashioned.

Common Mistakes

Can you give me direction to the museum?
Can you give me directions to the museum?
use the plural form for route instructions.

3. A particular area or position from which someone or something appears, is heard,

3.nounB1
Definition

A particular area or position from which someone or something appears, is heard, or is located, especially when the exact spot is not yet known.

Example

The police officer ran in the direction of the noise coming from the park.

collocation: in the direction of

A white car appeared from the direction of the bridge at sunset.

collocation: from the direction of

Common collocations
  • in the direction of
  • from the direction of
  • every direction
  • all directions
Synonyms
  • area

    less specific about orientation; just a general zone

  • side

    emphasises which part or flank something is on

Grammar Patterns

from the direction of + noun

in every direction

Usage Note

Typically appears in fixed prepositional phrases (in the direction of, from the direction of). Not used in the plural for this sense.

4. A natural ability to know where you are and how to find your way to places witho

4.nounB1
Definition

A natural ability to know where you are and how to find your way to places without relying on maps, signs, or electronic devices.

Example

Hassan has an excellent sense of direction and never needs a map.

collocation: sense of direction

Without a map, Aylin realised she had a poor sense of direction in town.

Common collocations
  • sense of direction
  • good sense of direction
  • poor sense of direction
  • have a sense of direction

Grammar Patterns

have a (good/poor) sense of direction

Usage Note

Always used with the determiner 'a' — 'a sense of direction'. Modified by adjectives like good, poor, excellent, terrible.

Common Mistakes

I have sense of direction.
I have a good sense of direction.
the article 'a' is required, and a modifier like 'good' or 'poor' is very common.

5. The activity of leading, managing, or supervising an organisation, project, team

5.nounB2
Definition

The activity of leading, managing, or supervising an organisation, project, team, or creative work by giving instructions and making key decisions.

Example

Under Ilan's firm direction, the team finished the project two weeks early.

collocation: under someone's direction

The school is now under the direction of a new head teacher from Osaka.

passive: be under the direction of

Common collocations
  • under the direction of
  • take direction from
  • provide direction
  • direction of the project
  • firm direction
Synonyms
  • management

    more concrete; focuses on running day-to-day operations

  • leadership

    emphasises vision and inspiration rather than supervision

  • supervision

    suggests watching over someone's work closely

Grammar Patterns

under the direction of + person

take direction from + person

Usage Note

Frequently used in formal or business contexts. 'Under the direction of [someone]' is a common passive construction. 'Direction' in this sense is uncountable.

6. Written or spoken information that explains the steps for carrying out a task, u

6.nounB1
Definition

Written or spoken information that explains the steps for carrying out a task, using a product, or acting in a given setting — for instance, a doctor's orders, cooking steps on a packet, or workplace safety rules.

Example

The doctor's directions said to take the medicine three times a day after meals.

collocation: follow/obey directions

Jisoo read the directions on the rice packet carefully before cooking dinner.

collocation: read the directions

Common collocations
  • follow directions
  • give directions
  • read the directions
  • directions for use
  • provide directions
Synonyms
  • instructions

    more commonly used for step-by-step guidance on how to use something

  • guidelines

    less strict; suggests suggestions rather than firm orders

Grammar Patterns

give directions

follow directions

directions for + noun/verb-ing

Usage Note

Often used with verbs like give, follow, read, provide. 'Directions' in this sense is most common in the plural; the singular 'direction' meaning 'an order' exists but is rare outside legal or military contexts.

Common Mistakes

I followed the direction on the box.
I followed the directions on the box.
instructions usually take the plural form.

7. How a situation, person, or area of work changes or progresses as time passes.

7.nounB2
Definition

How a situation, person, or area of work changes or progresses as time passes.

Example

The company's new direction toward renewable energy attracted many investors.

direction toward(s) + noun phrase showing change

Hyun felt his career was heading in the wrong direction after five years in the same role.

heading/moving in a (right/wrong) direction

Common collocations
  • new direction
  • right direction
  • wrong direction
  • change direction
  • shift direction
Synonyms
  • trend

    more statistical and impersonal; a trend can be observed, while a direction is actively chosen or felt

  • course

    suggests a planned or charted path; slightly more formal than direction

  • path

    implies a series of steps rather than a general trajectory; more concrete

Grammar Patterns

direction + towards/to

direction + of

move in a + adjective + direction

Usage Note

Often appears with an adjective (new, wrong, right, opposite, promising) before the noun. The preposition toward or towards is common when naming the target of the change.

Common Mistakes

The company is changing his direction to green energy.
The company is changing direction toward green energy.
For this sense of general development, 'toward' is preferred over 'to,' and 'direction' does not need a possessive pronoun.
The discussion took a different direction of the project.
The discussion took a different direction on the project.
Use 'on' or 'for' when specifying the topic area.

8. A clear purpose or aim that guides what a person does or how a group operates, g

8.nounB2
Definition

A clear purpose or aim that guides what a person does or how a group operates, giving focus and meaning to their actions.

Example

After college, Jack needed to find some direction for his life.

find direction + for one's life

The charity operates without clear direction since the founder retired.

Common collocations
  • clear direction
  • sense of direction
  • lack direction
  • new direction
  • provide direction
Synonyms
  • purpose

    more inward and personal; a purpose is why you do something, while direction is where you are going

  • focus

    emphasises concentration of energy rather than overall trajectory

  • aim

    more concrete and specific than direction; an aim is usually a measurable target

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

give/direction to

lack (of) direction

sense of direction

Usage Note

Usually uncountable in this sense — we say 'lack direction' not 'lack a direction.' When countable, it specifies a particular goal (e.g., 'The project has two directions we could pursue').

Common Mistakes

He needs a direction in life.
He needs direction in life.
This sense is typically uncountable; 'a direction' could imply a physical heading.
The team is lacking of direction.
The team is lacking direction.
No preposition needed after 'lack' or 'lacking.'

9. the art and skill of supervising and guiding the creative aspects of a film, pla

9.nounB2
Definition

the art and skill of supervising and guiding the creative aspects of a film, play, television show, or other performance, including actors' performances and visual style

Example

The film's direction was praised for its creative use of lighting and camera angles.

direction + was praised + for + creative element

Dario spent two years studying film direction at a well-known academy in central Paris.

Common collocations
  • film direction
  • stage direction
  • under the direction of
  • direction award
  • musical direction
Synonyms
  • directing

    more action-focused; 'directing' is what a person does, 'direction' is the craft or result

  • staging

    narrower — refers specifically to theatre and how a play is physically arranged on stage

Grammar Patterns

direction of + film/play/performance

under the direction of + person

Usage Note

Not to be confused with 'stage directions' (written instructions in a script about where actors should stand). This sense refers to the overall creative leadership of a director.

Common Mistakes

The direction of the movie was well-done.
The direction of the movie was excellent.
Avoid 'well-done' as a collocation for direction; use 'strong,' 'superb,' 'skilful,' or 'creative.'
She studied the direction at film school.
She studied direction at film school.
No article needed when referring to the field of study.
Idioms

pull in different/opposite directions

idiom

To have goals or ideas that conflict with each other, making it hard to succeed.

The marketing and sales teams often pull in opposite directions.

Why do your personal goals and work demands always pull in different directions?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all these words relate to where something is going or how it is led, they cluster around different senses of 'direction'. For the core physical sense (noun/1), 'way' is the broadest — it can mean any path or manner, while 'direction' specifies orientation. 'Course' implies a planned route, especially for ships or aircraft, and 'route' names the specific roads taken. In management contexts (noun/5), 'guidance' suggests advice and recommendations rather than orders, 'management' is more operational and hands-on, and 'supervision' implies close oversight. For purposeful aim (noun/8), 'aim' is more measurable ('her aim was to raise $10,000'), 'focus' suggests concentrated effort on one area, and 'purpose' is deeper and more personal ('he found purpose in teaching'). Unlike all of these, 'direction' is unique in covering both literal movement and abstract leadership with the same root metaphor of 'guiding along a line'. A concrete example: 'The car headed east (direction); the GPS suggested the fastest route; the manager provided guidance on deadlines; her aim was to finish by Friday.'

way ↗course ↗route ↗guidance ↗instruction ↗management ↗aim ↗focus ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in the direction of
  • in all directions
  • sense of direction
  • change direction
  • direction from
  • under the direction of
  • in the right direction
  • in the opposite direction

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Direction comes from Latin 'directus', the past participle of 'dirigere' — a verb formed from 'di-' (apart, thoroughly) and 'regere' (to guide, to keep straight). 'Dirigere' meant to set something in a straight line, to guide, or to arrange in order. The word entered English through Old French 'direction' in the 14th–15th centuries, initially carrying the sense of 'guiding, management, or steering'. The physical sense of 'course or line of movement' developed alongside the abstract senses of 'instruction' and 'leadership' by the early 16th century. The modern use for 'the art of film or theatre directing' emerged in the early 20th century with the rise of cinema.