Direct

/dɪˈrɛkt/

Meaning & Definition

verb
to control the operations of; manage.
She was hired to direct the new marketing campaign.
to give instructions to; guide.
He directed the students on how to complete the assignment.
adjective
straightforward or immediate; not indirect.
He gave a direct answer to the question.
directly in a straight line; without deviation.
She took the direct route to the office.
being explicit and unambiguous.
His direct approach to the criticism was refreshing.
adverb
in a direct manner.
Please speak directly to the point.
without intervening factors.
She went directly to the source for information.

Etymology

From Middle English 'directe', from Latin 'directus', past participle of 'dirigere' meaning 'to guide or set straight'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

direct approach
A straightforward method of dealing with a situation.
direct message (DM)
A private message sent to someone on social media.
direct line
A direct means of communication, often used in business contexts.

Related Words

direction
The course in which someone or something moves.
directive
An official or authoritative instruction.
director
A person who is in charge of an activity, a company, or an organization.

Slang Meanings

To be frank or straightforward, often used in a casual context.
Just be direct with him; he’ll appreciate it more.
To avoid being indirect or vague.
In today’s meeting, let’s keep it direct and skip the small talk.