INDEX:
1. the direction in which someone or something is moving, aimed etc
2. ways of asking about direction
3. to tell someone the way to a place
4. the ability to guess or find the right direction
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ WAY
↑ ROAD/PATH
↑ ROAD/PATH
↑ TRAVEL
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1. the direction in which someone or something is moving, aimed etc
▷ direction /dɪˈrekʃ ə n, dəˈrekʃ ə n, daɪ-/ [countable noun]
▪ The moons all move around the planet in the same direction.
▪ Frightened by the sound of footsteps, the rabbits ran off in all directions.
in somebody’s direction
towards someone
▪ I was hoping he wouldn’t look in our direction and notice us sitting there.
in the direction of something
towards something
▪ The two young men headed off in the direction of Central Park.
from the direction of something
from something
▪ The sound of shots came from the direction of the compound, a quarter of a mile away.
in the right/wrong direction
▪ We’re going in the right direction now - I can see the main road up ahead.
in the opposite direction
▪ Bill marched off angrily in the opposite direction.
from opposite directions
▪ Tornadoes usually form when rising warm, moist air rotates, as winds from opposite directions collide.
in a southerly/easterly etc direction
▪ The plane was traveling in a northeasterly direction when it was hit by lightning.
▷ way /weɪ/ [countable noun usually singular]
the general direction in which someone or something is moving, is aimed etc :
▪ The bear went that way - you can see its tracks in the snow.
▪ It is important to consider which way the house faces, as that determines how much sun it gets.
the right/wrong way
▪ Are you sure we’re going the right way? I don’t remember seeing that church before.
▷ course /kɔːʳs/ [countable noun usually singular]
the direction in which something such as a ship or aircraft is moving, which has been previously planned :
▪ The captain decided to change the ship’s course to avoid the storm.
on/off course
following the correct or incorrect course
▪ Investigators say the plane was over 800 miles off course when it crashed.
2. ways of asking about direction
▷ which way /ˌwɪtʃ ˈweɪ/ [adverb] spoken
use this to ask someone the general direction that something is in, that someone is travelling in etc :
▪ Which way are you going? Maybe we can share a cab.
▪ ‘Excuse me, which way is the Natural History Museum?’ ‘That way. Keep walking and you’ll see it on the left.’
▷ which direction /ˌwɪtʃ də̇ˈrekʃ ə n/ [noun phrase]
use this when you when you want to know exact details about which direction something is in, about which direction someone is travelling in etc :
▪ Which direction do we take once we reach the top of the hill?
▷ ask somebody how to get to/ask somebody the way/ask the way /ˌɑːsk somebody haʊ tə get tuː, ˌɑːsk somebody ðə ˈweɪ, ˌɑːsk ðə ˈweɪǁˌæsk-/ [verb phrase]
to ask someone the way to a place, especially when you have already started your journey :
▪ He looked suspicious when we asked him how to get to the border.
▪ Maggie stopped the first person she saw and asked them the way to the hospital.
▪ I’ve got no idea where we are - we’ll have to stop and ask the way.
▷ ask for directions /ˌɑːsk fəʳ də̇ˈrekʃ ə nzǁˌæsk-/ [verb phrase]
to ask for instructions on how to get somewhere, either before you start a journey or after you have started it :
▪ Some people stopped as they passed, asking for directions.
ask for directions to
▪ I asked for directions to the town hall and made my way there on foot.
▷ can you tell me the way to/do you know the way to /kən juː ˌtel miː ðə ˈweɪ tuː, duː juː ˌnəʊ ðə ˈweɪ tuː/ spoken
use this to ask the way to somewhere :
▪ Can you tell me the way to the harbor, please?
▪ Excuse me, buddy - do you know the way to the beach?
▷ how do I get /ˌhaʊ duː aɪ ˈget/ spoken
used especially when you know that someone knows the way to that place :
how do I get to
▪ How do I get to the station from here?
how do I get there/back/home etc
▪ I’ve got her address but how do I get there?
▷ is this the way to /ɪz ðɪs ðə ˈweɪ tuː/ spoken
used especially when you have already started going somewhere and want to know if you are going the right way :
▪ ‘Is this the right way to the Science Museum?’ ‘No, you’re going in the wrong direction.’
3. to tell someone the way to a place
▷ tell somebody how to get to/tell somebody the way /ˌtel somebody haʊ tə ˈget tuː, ˌtel somebody ðə ˈweɪ/ [verb phrase]
▪ He knows how to get here. I told him the way myself.
tell somebody the way to something
▪ Graham can tell you the way to Yvonne’s house.
tell somebody the way out/here/there etc
▪ Excuse me, could you tell me the way out, please?
▷ give directions /ˌgɪv də̇ˈrekʃ ə nz/ [verb phrase]
to give someone written or spoken instructions about how to get to a place :
▪ He got into the car and began to give directions.
give somebody directions/give directions to somebody
▪ I’m not surprised you couldn’t find your way here if Peter gave you directions!
▷ show somebody the way /ˌʃəʊ somebody ðə ˈweɪ/ [verb phrase]
to show someone how to get to a place, especially by going there with them :
▪ I’ll send someone with you to show you the way.
show sb the way to
▪ She asked a scruffy-looking little boy to show her the way to the police station.
▷ direct /dɪˈrekt, dəˈrekt, daɪ-/ [transitive verb] formal
to show someone the way to a place, especially by telling them where it is or pointing to it :
direct somebody behind/towards/out etc
▪ A steward directed us behind the stage and towards the dressing rooms.
direct somebody to something
▪ Go and ask the patrolman - he’ll direct you to the freeway.
4. the ability to guess or find the right direction
▷ sense of direction /ˌsens əv də̇ˈrekʃ ə n/ [singular noun]
▪ When night came we lost all sense of direction and were soon completely lost.
good/bad/excellent etc sense of direction
▪ I can’t believe you got us back to the hotel - you’ve got a really good sense of direction.