directs

present tense third-person singular of direct
1
as in funnels
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake

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2
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

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4
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

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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

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Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of directs Called the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2024, the law directs the VA to increase veterans' benefits by the same inflation adjustment percentage as Social Security payments. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 4 Oct. 2024 An option titled Other Browsers directs you to export existing passwords to a CSV file and import them into True Key. PCMAG, 3 Oct. 2024 Paris Barclay directs and executive produces. Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2024 Leigh Silverman directs a rigorously unspectacular production, with an almost dogmatic refusal to add any Broadway razzle. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024 Adam Bernstein directs the pilot and also produces with fellow director Jet Wilkinson. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2024 Phillips also directs the new musical, which follows the Batman villain’s romance, played by Joaquin Phoenix, with his eventual accomplice, Harley Quinn. Hannah Malach, WWD, 1 Oct. 2024 Sam Mendes executive produces the series and directs the pilot episode. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2024 Two-time Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone directs, with a book by three-time Tony nominee Rick Elice. Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directs
Verb
  • That piece of paper instructs us to pay it forward and boo someone else, all in secret of course.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 14 Oct. 2024
  • In suits brought by customers, Tesla can shift liability by pointing out that their user manual instructs drivers using Autopilot and FSD to remain alert and in control of the vehicle, with their hands on the wheel at all times in case human intervention is required to avert a crash.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • China steers local firms away from Nvidia.
    John Kell, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2024
  • The other problem this uncovers is overgeneralization, where a small sample size is brushstroked into believing that its application will still be the same and will drive the same results in a larger market size, which steers you to neglect external factors and other relevant indicators.
    Mustansir Paliwala, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Edison Research, which conducts national exit polling for NBC News and other news organizations, surveyed 2,750 Latino voters nationally.
    Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
  • The bipartisan polling team that conducts surveys for NBC News recently ran an experiment to show the impact of pollsters’ assumptions about turnout.
    David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • This tells you what the words have in common.
    Kris Holt, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Siegel's segment, Stowaway, tells the story of a young conspiracy theorist who heads to the Mojave Desert to document sightings of lights in the sky.
    Simon Thompson, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • As the senior vice president for Mark & Graham, a gifting brand that has a cult following for its travel products, Kate oversees the collection and introduces new items to the mix.
    Shivani Vora, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
  • One potential company candidate could be Ryan Gould, who oversees its digital ad sales.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Perhaps other cats do the same because the moonlight casts shadows on the walls of their home, Siracusa said.
    Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2024
  • The ‘petals’ that make up this feature were inspired by the blue agave plant and casts a dramatic shadow around the bar to integrate light throughout the space.
    Roger Sands, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Once everything is buckled and strapped, McDonald guides me into my craft.
    Christopher Barnard, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2024
  • But Abuelita, with her gentle wisdom, guides through a mindful journey.
    Roxsy Lin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Here, Ronan manages to turn a familiar story into something like an epic of self-forgiveness.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024
  • But as a movie, Folie à Deux is an off-key mess that barely manages to express its handful of good ideas.
    Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 4 Oct. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Directs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directs. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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