the act of directing or the state of being directed management, control, or guidance the work of a stage or film director the course or line along which a person or thing moves, points, or lies the place towards which a person or thing is directed a line of action; course the name and address on a letter, parcel, etc the process of conducting an orchestra, choir, etc an instruction in the form of a word or symbol heading or occurring in the body of a passage, movement, or piece to indicate tempo, dynamics, mood, etc
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
di•rec•tion /dɪˈrɛkʃən, daɪ-/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- an act or instance of directing:[uncountable]working with a minimum of direction.
- the line along which anything lies, faces, or moves, with reference to the point or region toward which it is directed: [countable]We wandered off in the wrong direction. The direction is north. We headed out in several directions at once.[uncountable]I have a bad sense of direction.
- a line of thought or action or a tendency or inclination:[countable]the direction of contemporary thought.
- Usually, directions. [plural] instructions or guidance:confusing directions for assembling the furniture.
- management;
control;
supervision:[uncountable]Under his direction the company's profits soared. - Show Business the technique, art, or business of a stage or film director or of a musical conductor giving instructions:[uncountable]Under her direction the orchestra played several pieces beautifully.
- a purpose or guiding orientation;
focus:[uncountable]He seems to lack direction in his life.
di•rec•tion
(di rek′shən, dī′-),USA pronunciation n.
di•rec′tion•less, adj.
- the act or an instance of directing.
- the line along which anything lies, faces, moves, etc., with reference to the point or region toward which it is directed:The storm moved in a northerly direction.
- the point or region itself:The direction is north.
- a position on a line extending from a specific point toward a point of the compass or toward the nadir or the zenith.
- a line of thought or action or a tendency or inclination:the direction of contemporary thought.
- Usually, directions. instruction or guidance for making, using, etc.:directions for baking a cake.
- order;
command. - management;
control;
guidance;
supervision:a company under good direction. - a directorate.
- the name and address of the intended recipient as written on a letter, package, etc.
- decisions in a stage or film production as to stage business, speaking of lines, lighting, and general presentation.
- the technique, act, or business of making such decisions, managing and training a cast of actors, etc.
- the technique, act, or business of directing an orchestra, concert, or other musical presentation or group.
- [Music.]a symbol or phrase that indicates in a score the proper tempo, style of performance, mood, etc.
- a purpose or orientation toward a goal that serves to guide or motivate;
focus:He doesn't seem to have any direction in life.
- Latin dīrēctiōn- (stem of dīrēctiō) arranging in line, straightening. See direct, -ion
- Middle French)
- late Middle English direccioun (1375–1425
- 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See tendency.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'alter direction' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):