in the direction of

in the direction of — idiom

1. facing a particular place or object, or moving towards it without necessarily re

1.idiomB1
Definition

facing a particular place or object, or moving towards it without necessarily reaching the exact spot

Example

Hassan pointed in the direction of the old library on Elm Street.

used after verb of pointing: point + in the direction of

The relief truck drove in the direction of the flooded village.

Common collocations
  • in the direction of + place/building
  • point in the direction of
  • walk in the direction of
  • look in the direction of
  • move in the direction of
Synonyms
  • toward

    shorter and more direct; suggests reaching the destination rather than just heading generally

  • towards

    same meaning as toward; more common in British English

Antonyms
  • away from

    the opposite movement — moving farther from a place instead of closer to it

Grammar Patterns

in the direction of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often used after verbs of motion (walk, drive, run) or verbs of pointing and looking (point, nod, glance, turn). Unlike the preposition 'toward', this phrase emphasises a general area rather than an exact destination.

Common Mistakes

He walked toward of the station.
He walked in the direction of the station.
'in the direction of' is a complete phrase; do not add an extra 'toward' or 'to' after it.