direct

/daɪˈrekt/ (bre, ipa) · [dɚˈɛkt] /dɪˈrekt/ (ame, ipa) · [dɚˈɛkt] /də-ˈrekt dī-/ (ame, mw) · /dəˈrekt/ (bre, ipa) · [dɚˈɛkt] /dəˈrekt/ (ame, ipa)

direct — 動詞

  • directpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • directs3rd person singular
  • directing-ing form
  • directedpast simple

1. to manage and make the important decisions about how a team, project, or organis

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

管理;指導

掌管團隊或專案的運作

to manage and make the important decisions about how a team, project, or organisation operates, deciding what tasks people do and how the work moves forward

例句

The committee asked Christopher to direct the new marketing campaign.

委員會請 Christopher 負責指導新的行銷活動。

direct + noun phrase (project/campaign)

Renata directs a team of twenty engineers at an electric-car company.

Renata 在一個電動車公司管理一支由二十名工程師組成的團隊。

同義詞
  • manage

    more general; 'manage' can apply to any scale, while 'direct' suggests strategic oversight

  • run

    informal; 'run a business' is common but less formal than 'direct'

  • oversee

    focuses on watching and checking, whereas 'direct' includes giving instructions

  • supervise

    implies watching workers closely, while 'direct' suggests a broader leadership role

反義詞
  • follow

    to carry out someone else's instructions rather than giving them

文法句型

direct + noun phrase (project / team / department)

常見錯誤

He directs in a small office.
He manages a small office.
💡'direct' implies running a complex operation with decisions about how work is done, not just overseeing a space.
She directed the kitchen last night.
She was in charge of the kitchen last night.
💡'direct' is more natural for large-scale projects or teams, not routine household tasks.

2. to stand on a road and use hand signals or a whistle to show drivers which way t

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

指揮交通

在道路上用手勢引導車輛

to stand on a road and use hand signals or a whistle to show drivers which way to move their vehicles, especially when traffic lights are not working or during a busy event

例句

Police officers stood at the junction directing traffic after the lights failed.

號誌燈故障後,警察站在路口指揮交通。

direct + traffic

Volunteers in bright yellow vests directed cars out of the concert car park.

穿著亮黃背心的義工在音樂會的停車場引導車輛。

同義詞
  • control

    wider meaning; 'control traffic' can include using traffic lights, not just hand signals

  • guide

    less formal; 'guide vehicles' suggests helping rather than commanding

文法句型

direct + traffic

用法筆記

This sense is almost exclusively used with the nouns 'traffic' or 'vehicles'. It describes a physical, roadside activity, not an office role.

常見錯誤

The manager directed the traffic of emails.
The manager handled the flow of emails.
💡'direct traffic' is only for road vehicles, not digital information.

3. to be responsible for the creative decisions in a film, play, television program

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

執導;導演

負責電影、戲劇的創作決策

to be responsible for the creative decisions in a film, play, television programme, or other performance, including telling the actors, camera operators, and designers what to do to achieve the desired effect

例句

Sophia directed a short film about two sisters growing up in Tokyo.

Sophia 執導了一部關於兩姊妹在東京長大的短片。

The play was directed by a young woman from São Paulo.

這齣戲是由一位來自聖保羅的年輕女性所導演的。

passive: was directed by

同義詞
  • produce

    different role; producers handle funding and logistics, while directors handle creative decisions

反義詞
  • act

    to perform rather than guide the performance

文法句型

direct + film / play / show / episode

用法筆記

Can be used transitively (direct a film) or intransitively (She has been directing for twenty years). When used without an object, the context typically implies film, theatre, or television work.

常見錯誤

The chef directed the kitchen staff in a TV show.
The chef directed a TV show about cooking.
💡'direct' refers to the creative role, not performing in the show.

4. to point or turn something such as a light, a camera, a weapon, or a person's at

4.動詞及物B1
釋義

指向;瞄準

將物品或注意力朝向特定目標

to point or turn something such as a light, a camera, a weapon, or a person's attention so that it faces a particular target, place, or person

例句

Élise directed the torch at the dark corner of the basement.

Élise 把手電筒照向地下室的陰暗角落。

direct + noun phrase + at + noun phrase

The teacher directed her students' attention towards the diagram on the board.

老師將學生的注意力轉向黑板上的圖表。

direct + attention + towards

同義詞
  • aim

    more physical and specific to weapons or cameras; 'aim a gun' vs 'direct a camera'

  • point

    simpler and more common in everyday speech; 'point the flashlight'

  • train

    formal, used for cameras or weapons; 'train the telescope on the moon'

文法句型

direct + noun phrase + at/towards + noun phrase

用法筆記

Commonly used with prepositions 'at', 'towards', or 'to'. The passive form (be directed at/towards) is very frequent, especially for abstract targets such as attention, criticism, or efforts.

常見錯誤

He directed to the station.
He directed me to the station.
💡'direct' in this sense always needs an object that you point or turn.
She directed towards the door.
She directed her gaze towards the door.
💡The thing being aimed must be stated.

5. to explain the route or path that someone must follow in order to arrive at a pa

5.動詞及物B1
釋義

指路;引路

告訴某人如何到達某地

to explain the route or path that someone must follow in order to arrive at a particular place, such as a street, building, or landmark

例句

A passer-by directed Sana to the nearest underground station.

一位路人告訴 Sana 離她最近的地鐵站怎麼走。

direct + person + to + place

The receptionist directed us towards the meeting room on the second floor.

櫃檯接待人員指引我們前往二樓的會議室。

同義詞
  • guide

    implies accompanying the person; 'guide a tourist through the city'

  • lead

    stronger sense of going ahead of the person; 'lead the visitors to the entrance'

  • point

    only uses a finger or gesture; 'point to the exit' is simpler than explaining a route

文法句型

direct + person + to + place

direct + person + towards + place

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2 (TRAFFIC): this sense tells a person the route verbally or via signs, whereas TRAFFIC involves hand signals to control vehicle movement. The object is a person (direct someone), not 'traffic' or 'vehicles'.

常見錯誤

Can you direct me how to use this machine?
Can you show me how to use this machine?
💡'direct' is for giving route instructions, not for teaching a skill.
He directed me the way.
He directed me to the station.
💡'direct' needs a destination, not just 'the way'.

6. to give an official instruction telling someone what they must do, often in a le

6.動詞及物B2
釋義

指示;命令

以正式權威要求某人做某事

to give an official instruction telling someone what they must do, often in a legal, medical, or workplace context where the command carries authority

例句

The judge directed the jury to ignore the newspaper article about the trial.

法官指示陪審團無視報紙上關於該審判的報導。

direct + object + to-infinitive (legal context)

The doctor directed that the patient be moved to a specialist unit immediately.

醫生指示立即將病患轉到專科病房。

direct + that-clause (medical context)

同義詞
  • order

    more direct and forceful; 'order' does not need a formal context

  • instruct

    similar formality level; 'instruct' emphasises teaching how, while 'direct' emphasises commanding what

  • command

    stronger authority; 'command' is used in military or emergency situations

反義詞
  • request

    to ask politely rather than order

  • forbid

    to order someone NOT to do something

文法句型

direct + noun phrase + to-infinitive

direct + that-clause

用法筆記

This is the most formal sense of 'direct'. It typically appears in legal, medical, or corporate contexts. The that-clause construction often uses the subjunctive (e.g. 'that the patient be moved'). Compare with 'order', which is more general.

常見錯誤

My mum directed me to clean my room.
My mum told me to clean my room.
💡'direct' is too formal for everyday family situations.
The teacher directed us to open our books.
The teacher told us to open our books.
💡'direct' sounds overly official in most classroom settings.

direct — 形容詞

direct — 副詞