adj
Common
directed
dih-REHK-tihd
Directed (adj) means Guided or aimed toward a particular goal or target. Example: “The campaign was directed at younger voters.”
adj
1
Guided or aimed toward a particular goal or target.
"The campaign was directed at younger voters."
"With directed practice, the students improved their spelling very quickly."
"The coach gave the players directed drills aimed at improving their passing."
How to use directed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAimed or guided toward a specific goal, audience, or target.
Common pairings
directed at
directed toward
well-directed
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more directed
- Superlative
- most directed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The campaign was _____ at younger voters.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
undirected
Related words
Rhymes for directed
erected
elected
expected
dejected
affected
detected
selected
effected
infected
projected
deflected
collected
See all rhymes for directed →
Frequently asked questions
What does “directed” mean?
The word “directed” means guided or aimed toward a particular goal or target. In plain terms, aimed or guided toward a specific goal, audience, or target.
How do you pronounce “directed”?
“Directed” is pronounced dih-REHK-tihd (/dɪˈɹɛktɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “directed” in a sentence?
Here is “directed” used in a sentence: “The campaign was directed at younger voters.”
What is the opposite of “directed”?
The opposite of “directed” — its antonyms — is undirected.
What part of speech is “directed”?
“Directed” is an adjective.
Is “directed” a common word?
“Directed” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between directed and aimed?
The two are close synonyms. Aimed usually points a single thing at a target, often physically — a camera or a remark aimed at someone. Directed is broader and more purposeful, suggesting sustained guidance toward a goal, as in a "directed effort" or energy "directed" into a project. Directed implies steering, not just pointing.
What is the opposite of directed?
The opposite is aimless or undirected — lacking a clear goal or target. Where directed effort is focused and purposeful, aimless activity wanders without aim. Related opposites include unfocused, random, and purposeless. The contrast is between energy channelled toward something specific and energy that has no particular destination.
What is an example of directed?
A "directed search" looks in specific, chosen places rather than everywhere at random. "Directed energy" is aimed at a particular point, and a "directed study" follows a guided plan toward set aims. In each case something is being steered toward a defined goal or target rather than left to drift.
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