Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

direct

/daɪˈrɛkt/
adjectiveverbnoun★Beginner— straightforward or immediate
general

Straightforward, without deviation or intermediaries

The CEO provided direct feedback to the employees.

The CEO gave immediate and clear feedback without going through managers.

💡

Often used to describe communication, paths, or relationships that are immediate and unmediated.

general

To guide or aim something precisely

She directed the project to meet the deadline.

She guided the project to ensure it was completed on time.

💡

As a verb, it can mean to control the course of something or someone.

filmtheater

A person in charge of a film, play, or other performance

The director worked closely with the actors to perfect their performances.

The person in charge of the film collaborated with the actors to refine their acting.

💡

In this context, 'director' refers to the person responsible for the creative and technical aspects of a production.

Collocations

direct communicationcommunication without intermediariesdirect flighta flight that goes straight to the destination without stopsdirect answeran answer that is clear and to the point

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

direct mailphrase
marketing material sent directly to potential customers
direct depositphrase
a method of paying employees or receiving benefits electronically

💡Pro Tip

Adjective vs. Verb

As an adjective, 'direct' describes something that is straightforward or immediate. As a verb, it means to guide or control the course of something.

⚡Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning of 'direct' can vary significantly based on context, so always consider the surrounding words and situation.

📖Word Origin

From Old French 'directe', from Latin 'directus', past participle of 'dirigere' meaning 'to direct, guide'.

📝Usage Notes

The word 'direct' can function as an adjective, verb, or noun, depending on the context. As a noun, it often refers to a person in charge of a production.

Word Breakdown

dirigere
to guide or direct
root
+
-us
past participle suffix
suffix
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.