1
as in conducts
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway
the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in instructs
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
our tour guide directed us to wait in front of the building until she could rejoin us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in orders
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority
the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in supervises
to look after and make decisions about
the music teacher directs both the student orchestra and the marching band
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
we quickly directed our attention toward the noise coming from the rear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in steers
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front
the guide directed the tour through the museum with commendable efficiency and expertise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of directs
Coggs' resolution is assigned to the council's Community and Economic Development Committee and directs the city's health and city development departments to identify solutions that address the gaps created by the recent closures.
—
Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Brown directs and conducts all the shows.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Eric Appel directs from a screenplay by Bargatze and Dan Lagana.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Feb. 2026
As Peck dances, directs, and readies her show for its live audience, the viewer gets a front-row seat into what goes into creating a world-class dance performance.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
The message pressures immediate action, directs users to non-government websites, and requests sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, bank details or login credentials.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
To discover these and other details, Dobrez directs folks to his book.
—Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Events in downtown coffee shops, hotel ballrooms, and at the Minneapolis American Indian Center helped urban tribal citizens connect and share resources, said Christine Yellow Bird, who directs the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation’s satellite office in Fargo, North Dakota.
—Graham Lee Brewer, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
The measure directs the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to create rules to implement it.
—Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice, 26 Jan. 2026
Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Brown directs and conducts all the shows.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Eric Appel directs from a screenplay by Bargatze and Dan Lagana.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Feb. 2026
As Peck dances, directs, and readies her show for its live audience, the viewer gets a front-row seat into what goes into creating a world-class dance performance.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
The message pressures immediate action, directs users to non-government websites, and requests sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, bank details or login credentials.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
To discover these and other details, Dobrez directs folks to his book.
—Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Events in downtown coffee shops, hotel ballrooms, and at the Minneapolis American Indian Center helped urban tribal citizens connect and share resources, said Christine Yellow Bird, who directs the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation’s satellite office in Fargo, North Dakota.
—Graham Lee Brewer, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
The measure directs the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to create rules to implement it.
—Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directs
Verb
-
SpaceX conducts many of its own rocket launches, most using the Falcon 9 rocket, from California and Florida.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Coast Guard said Polar Star conducts annual missions to McMurdo Station in Antarctica as part of Operation Deep Freeze, breaking through miles of ice that can reach up to 21 feet thick.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The usual assumption has been that if a user overtly instructs AI to act as a delusion-invoking collaborator, the AI simply obeys those commands.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Boulware instructs Ferrelli to go to Clemson’s football offices to meet with Sorrells and Swinney.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a court filing last week, Drummond’s office said the lawmakers leveled unsubstantiated attacks at Hiett and other officials but failed to challenge the validity of the fuel-adjustment clause orders themselves.—
Paul Monies,
Oklahoma Watch,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The bill also orders utilities to implement low-income financial assistance programs and creates a moratorium for electricity shutoffs during warmer weather.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rodriguez works at an after-school program in Orange County and supervises third graders.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The position directly supervises all parole agent specialists and parole agent supervisors assigned to the Division of Training Unit.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
January 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Der Pavilion aims to become a cultural pillar in the Engadin mountain region, serving as an enduring event throughout the ski season and beyond, Pace told WWD.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The country aims to scale up the proportion of SAF to between 7% and 10% by 2035.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The mayor's executive order steers the assessor to adopt the International Association of Assessing Officers ratio standards, produce a mass appraisal report and modify the city's economic condition factors.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The lifestyle and luxury executive, who joined Trudon in March 2025, also steers the creative strategy of its sister company Carrière Frères, a French interior fragrance brand.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The burgundy and soft petal duo sweetly channels Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day, but are more than wearable year round.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The Chilean musician channels the spirit of classic perreo on a reggaeton album shaped by sleek hooks and guided by the twists and turns of battle rap.—
Tomás Gauna,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Jennette McCurdy tells Sofia Coppola about writing Half His Age.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
After age 30, people lose, on average, 3% to 5% of their muscle mass each decade, which is an especially risky trajectory for women, Rachele Pojednic, PhD, EdM, FACSM, a nutrition and exercise researcher, and director of education at Stanford Lifestyle Medicine, tells SELF.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directs. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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