direct
command with authority
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,091 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 8,517 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
verb
- command with authority He directed the children to do their homework
- intend (something) to move towards a certain goal also: target, aim, place, point He aimed his fists towards his opponent's facecriticism directed at her superior
- guide the actors in (plays and films)
- be in charge of
- take somebody somewhere also: lead, take, conduct, guide We lead him to our chiefcan you take me to the main entrance?
- cause to go somewhere also: send The explosion sent the car flying in the airShe sent her children to camp
direct in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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I hoped that this incident might set up some more direct communication between us.
Ethan Frome · Edith Wharton · Chapter 1
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It is a bold and direct appeal to the best instincts of the heart.
Pennsylvania Pilgrim, and other poems Part 6 From — Volume I · John Greenleaf Whittier · Chapter 1
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The old gentleman feared that Mme. Favoral’s attention might at last be attracted by too direct allusions.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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And the girl knew that in the direct, unsophisticated judgments of the judges these things did not count at all.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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Mount upon my back: I will take you to a woman who can direct you how to kill the Seven-headed Serpent.’
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1