Word family noun direction directness director adjective direct ≠ indirect verb direct redirect adverb directly ≠ indirectly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdirectiondi‧rec‧tion /dəˈrekʃən, daɪ-/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 towards [countable]DIRECTION the way something or someone moves, faces, or is aimed Which direction did they go in?in the direction of something The suspects were last seen heading in the direction of Miami.in somebody’s direction Tony glanced in her direction and their eyes met. The girls pointed in the opposite direction. On seeing me, Maurice changed direction and went along the wharf instead. As shots rang out, the crowd ran screaming in all directions.from the direction of something There was a loud scream from the direction of the children’s pool.in a southerly/easterly etc direction Continue in a southerly direction until you reach the road.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually use which way ...? when asking where something is rather than using the noun direction: Which direction did they go in? → Which way did they go? | Which direction is north? → Which way is north?2 → directions3 way something develops [countable]WAY/MANNER the general way in which someone or something changes or develops We are happy with the direction the club is taking.move/head/go in the right direction I believe that things are heading in the right direction in South Africa.new/different/exciting etc direction The company is hoping to extend its operations in new directions.4 control [uncountable]CONTROL control, management, or adviceunder somebody’s direction Under Thompson’s direction, the college has developed an international reputation.5 where from or where to [countable]DIRECTION where something comes from or where something leadsin a direction The evidence all points in this direction.from a direction Help came from a wholly unexpected direction.6 purpose [uncountable]PURPOSE a general purpose or aim Her mother felt that Rachel’s life lacked direction.7 film/play [uncountable]AMF the instructions given to the actors and other people working on a film, play etc → a step in the right direction at step1(2)COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: the way something or someone moves, faces, or is aimedverbsgo in a directionI can give you a lift if you're going in my direction.move/head in a directionWe followed the other passengers heading in the direction of passport control.look/glance in a directionShe looked in the direction that Jeremy was pointing.face (in) a directionThe men were facing the direction from which they expected the attack.change direction (=start to go in a different direction)Suddenly the birds changed direction.adjectivesthe right/wrong directionAre you sure this is the right direction for Shipton?the opposite directionThe car crashed into a truck that was coming in the opposite direction.a southerly/westerly etc directionA strong wind was blowing from an easterly direction.phrasesin each/every direction (also in all directions)At the top of the tower there are splendid views in every direction.in both directionsThe traffic in both directions on the motorway wasn't moving at all.in different directionsThey said goodbye and walked off in different directions.in the general direction of something (=approximately where something is)He pointed in the general direction of the village.in a clockwise/anticlockwise direction (=like or unlike the movement of the hands of a clock)All movement on a roundabout is in a clockwise direction.a sense of direction (=the ability to judge which way you should be going)Do you have a good sense of direction?the direction of movement/travel/flow etcIt was hard work rowing against the direction of flow. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: verbsgive somebody directionsLuke's given me directions to his house.follow directionsYou can't get lost if you follow my directions.ask (somebody) for directionsLet's stop and ask someone for directions.get directions (=ask someone for directions)I went into a petrol station to get directions.adjectivesclear/goodHis directions were very clear and easy to follow. Examples from the Corpus
direction• Quartz is strongly bonded in all directions and has no good cleavage.• Frightened by the sound of footsteps, the rabbits ran off in all directions.• Whatever the circumstances, reporting means learning new skills, taking new directions, having more room to grow.• It points the way to new directions for the late 1980s and 1990s.• The plane was traveling in a northeasterly direction when it was hit by lightning.• Officials have complained that there is a lack of direction in the mayor's office.• Tornadoes usually form when rising warm, moist air rotates, as winds from opposite directions collide.• Bill marched off angrily in the opposite direction.• It can not be repeated too often - don't develop a bias towards one particular attitude or direction.• I was hoping he wouldn't look in our direction and notice us sitting there.• We're going in the right direction now - I can see the main road up ahead.• The moons all move around the planet in the same direction.• This decision could determine the direction in which our lives will move.• The sound of shots came from the direction of the compound, a quarter of a mile away.• The two young men headed off in the direction of Central Park.• Hencke shone the torch in the direction of the sound.• The ride in the air transporter had been bumpy due to air missiles fired in their direction.• Did you see which direction they went?in a southerly/easterly etc direction• Do you think you could pull me up and then point me in an easterly direction once we're outside?• They are mopping up in a southerly direction.• Two split off and went in a southerly direction.new/different/exciting etc direction• In a fan experiment, other dishes are put at the same distance as the original dish, but in different directions.• They wanted him to take the company in new directions, and his brief was an open-ended one.• The banks of the river move; water flows in new directions.• But research by Bill Frey of the University of Michigan suggests that they are now going in different directions.• But we were moving in different directions and it had been clear for some while that we stayed together out of habit.• They tended, however, to go off in different directions.• For Oz the tide floated the magazine off the mudbank of media obsessions and into new directions.• On the other hand, no new direction was immediately apparent.from a direction• That is, time is imaginary and is indistinguishable from directions in space.• Imaginary time is indistinguishable from directions in space. 