- direction
- noun1 where to/fromADJECTIVE▪ same▪
They were both going in the same direction.
▪ different, opposing, opposite, reverse, separate (esp. AmE)▪We are pulled in opposing directions by our emotions.
▪The ride in the reverse direction is a mere $4.
▪We both walked off in separate directions.
▪ right, wrong▪Unfortunately, we were going in the wrong direction.
▪ general▪I fired in the general direction of the officer's head, and missed.
▪ expected (esp. AmE), predicted▪America has not moved in the expected direction.
▪the predicted direction of climate change in the near term
▪ unexpected▪Support came from an unexpected direction.
▪ clockwise▪Turn the dial in a clockwise direction.
▪ anticlockwise (BrE), counterclockwise (AmE)▪ downward, upward▪These figures may have to be revised in an upward direction.
▪ backward, forward▪She shoved Sarah in the general forward direction.
▪ northerly, southerly, etc.▪The current flows in a south-easterly direction.
▪ east-west, north-south▪The runway was constructed in a north-south direction.
▪ horizontal, vertical▪A scanner deflects the laser beam in horizontal and vertical directions.
▪ random▪He started to run in a random direction.
▪ cardinal, compass (both esp. AmE)▪a house oriented exactly to the cardinal directions
▪I measured the distance and compass direction between successive positions.
▪ wind▪When sailing, keep a constant check on changes in wind direction.
VERB + DIRECTION▪ take▪Which direction do we have to take?
▪ change, reverse, switch▪The wind had changed direction.
▪What happens if you reverse the direction of the current?
▪Suddenly, the wind switched directions.
▪ flow in, go in, go off in▪ follow, head in, move in, travel in▪Dan followed the direction the sign had pointed.
▪The convoy is moving in the direction of the capital.
▪ veer in, veer off in▪While he was studying in Paris, his thinking suddenly veered off in a new direction.
▪ come from, come in▪He was hit by a truck coming in the opposite direction.
▪ face, face in▪I didn't see the accident because I was facing in the opposite direction.
▪ glance in, look in, nod in, point in▪She glanced in his direction.
▪‘Look!’ she said, pointing in the direction of the coast.
▪ indicate, point out▪The adults gazed in the direction indicated.
▪ nudge sb in, point sb in▪We have to nudge politicians in the right direction.
▪I can't come with you, but I can point you in the general direction.
▪ pull (sb/sth) in (often figurative)▪There are different considerations, pulling in different directions.
PREPOSITION▪ from a/the direction▪There was shriek of laughter from the direction of Sarah's room.
▪Let's approach the subject from a different direction.
▪ in a/the direction▪The aircraft was flying in a northerly direction.
PHRASES▪ the direction of flow, the direction of movement, the direction of travel▪I prefer to be facing the direction of travel.
▪ the direction of sb's gaze▪She followed the direction of his gaze.
▪ from all directions, from both directions▪People came running from all directions.
▪ in all directions, in both directions▪The blast sent debris flying in all directions.
▪The road was blocked in both directions.
▪ a glance in sb/sth's direction, a nod in sb/sth's direction▪People passed by without a glance in her direction.
▪The report gives a brief nod in the direction of green issues (= mentions them briefly). (figurative)
▪ a sense of direction▪I don't have much sense of direction.
▪ in any particular direction, in no particular direction▪The story does not go in any particular direction.
▪She stalked away, in no particular direction.
2 developmentADJECTIVE▪ new▪The party must take a new direction if it is to survive.
▪ right, wrong▪ desired▪These incentives should move the industry in the desired direction.
▪ positive▪I felt the company was headed in a positive direction.
▪a step to change your life in a positive direction
▪ promising▪This points to a promising new direction for cancer research.
▪ clear▪No clear direction in policy can be identified.
▪ future▪the debate about the future direction of socialism
▪ policy, strategic▪His understanding of our business will further strengthen our strategic direction.
VERB + DIRECTION▪ take▪It is hard to know which direction the Church will take.
▪ change, shift (esp. AmE)▪It's time to change direction and find a new job.
▪The company needed to shift direction if it was going to survive.
▪ go in, move in▪At least things are moving in the right direction now.
▪ influence, shape▪the critical decisions that shape the direction of our lives
▪ determine▪First determine the direction of your expected business growth.
▪She's a young woman, determining the direction of her life.
▪ set▪The proposals aim to set a new direction for local government.
▪ indicate▪The recommendations indicate possible directions for further studies.
PHRASES▪ a change of direction▪This was a major change of direction for Britain's foreign policy.
▪ a shift in direction▪The book signals a shift in direction from her earlier novels.
▪ a step in … direction▪The first step in this direction will be a discussion with the unions.
▪ a step in the right direction, a step in the wrong direction▪The new law is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but it doesn't go far enough.
▪ in one direction▪I was being pushed in one direction.
▪The market is moving primarily in one direction.
3 purposeADJECTIVE▪ clear▪Do not let the discussion fragment into a desultory conversation with no clear direction.
VERB + DIRECTION▪ be lacking in (esp. BrE), lack▪Once again her life felt lacking in direction.
PHRASES▪ a sense of direction▪We are looking for somebody with a clear sense of direction.
4 (often directions) instructionsADJECTIVE▪ clear, good, precise, specific▪Isabel's directions are always very precise.
▪The teacher gives specific directions and corrects your pose.
▪ step-by-step▪Each card has step-by-step directions on one side.
▪ easy-to-follow▪Each chapter includes easy-to-follow directions for a variety of activities.
▪ stage▪Shakespeare's famous stage direction, ‘Exit, pursued by a bear.’
▪ driving▪Internet sites that offer everything from driving directions to subway maps
▪ online▪Just follow the online directions to take the quiz.
▪ label (AmE)▪Follow label directions for best results.
VERB + DIRECTION▪ ask, ask for▪Let's stop and ask for directions.
▪ give sb, provide▪Can you give me directions for getting to John's?
▪signs providing directions to the new concert hall.
▪ get▪We got directions to the hall from a man in the town.
▪ follow▪Just follow the directions on the box.
PREPOSITION▪ direction for▪Are there any directions for putting up the tent?
▪ direction to▪Can you give me directions to the post office?
5 control/guidanceADJECTIVE▪ clear▪In effective classrooms the teacher provided clear direction.
▪ strategic▪the strategic direction of the company
▪ spiritual▪The monarch looks to the archbishop for spiritual direction.
▪ government▪All such research is under government direction.
VERB + DIRECTION▪ give sb, provide (sb with)PREPOSITION▪ under sb's direction▪They work under the direction of a senior manager.
▪ direction from▪The new workers need direction from a supervisor.
◆◆◆NOTE: Points of the compass▪ due … (of)▪The park is due north of Santa Cruz.
▪ far …▪a small town in the far north of Canada
▪The reserve is a little further south on the coast.
▪ down south, up north▪They have moved down south (= to the south of the country).
▪ journey … (esp. BrE), way …▪On our way south we passed through hostile territory.
▪ road … , track …▪the road west out of the city
▪ be … of, lie … of▪San Diego is south of Los Angeles.
▪ north-east, south-east▪The farm lies 60 miles north-east of Cape Town.
▪ come … , go …▪I thought we were going east.
▪ drive … , fly … , run … , travel … , walk …▪From Fort William drive north for a couple of miles.
▪ set off …▪The troops set off north.
▪ carry on … , continue … , proceed …▪The road continues west for ten miles.
▪ bear … , head …▪Take the N1 heading west from Bern.
▪ turn …▪When you reach the top, turn west.
▪ face … , look …▪The kitchen window faces south.
▪The painting depicts the river looking north from the bridge.
▪ … bank, … coast, … shore▪the south bank of the river
▪ … wind▪a bitter east wind
▪ in the … (of)▪I live in the north.
▪There are lakes in the north-east of Poland.
▪ from the … (of)▪The wind is coming from the west.
▪ to the … (of)▪Oxford is to the north-west of London.
▪ towards/toward the …▪Towards/Toward the north the woods turn into pine forests.
▪ which way is … ?▪Which way is west?
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
