indirect
ihn-deye-REHKT
Indirect (adj) means not going straight to a point or goal; roundabout. Example: “The bus follows an indirect path through several small villages.”
adj
1
Not going straight to a point or goal; roundabout.
"The bus follows an indirect path through several small villages."
"She gave me an indirect answer and kept talking about something else."
"We took an indirect route to avoid the traffic."
2
Not caused directly, but as a secondary effect.
"Poor sleep can have an indirect effect on how well you learn."
"One indirect result of the new road was noisier streets nearby."
"The policy had an indirect effect on small businesses."
3
Not straightforward or open in manner.
"He is quite indirect, so you often have to guess what he wants."
"Instead of saying no, she gave an indirect hint that she was busy."
"His indirect way of asking for a raise left his boss confused."
How to use indirect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot straight or direct — could mean a roundabout path, a secondary cause, or an evasive way of speaking.
Common pairings
indirect route
indirect cause
indirect approach
indirect speech
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Word forms
- Plural
- indirects
- Third person singular
- indirects
- Past tense
- indirected
- Comparative
- more indirect
- Superlative
- most indirect
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bus follows an _____ path through several small villages.
Etymology
From Late Latin indirectus, "not straight," from in- ("not") + directus ("direct").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for indirect
See all rhymes for indirect →Frequently asked questions
What does “indirect” mean?
The word “indirect” means not going straight to a point or goal; roundabout. In plain terms, not straight or direct — could mean a roundabout path, a secondary cause, or an evasive way of speaking.
How do you pronounce “indirect”?
“Indirect” is pronounced ihn-deye-REHKT (/ˌɪn.dɪˈɹɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “indirect” in a sentence?
Here is “indirect” used in a sentence: “We took an indirect route to avoid the traffic.”
What is the opposite of “indirect”?
The opposite of “indirect” — its antonyms — is direct.
What part of speech is “indirect”?
“Indirect” is an adjective.
Where does the word “indirect” come from?
The word “indirect” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin indirectus, "not straight," from in- ("not") + directus ("direct").
Is “indirect” a common word?
“Indirect” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “indirect” have?
“Indirect” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not going straight to a point or goal; roundabout.
What is the difference between direct and indirect?
Direct means going straight to a point, goal, or person, while indirect means taking a roundabout route or approach. Indirect can also describe something that happens as a secondary effect rather than being caused straight away, such as an indirect consequence of a decision.
What is indirect speech in grammar?
Indirect speech, also called reported speech, reports what someone said without quoting their exact words, as in "She said she was tired." Direct speech, by contrast, repeats the exact words inside quotation marks: "She said, 'I am tired.'" Indirect speech usually shifts pronouns and verb tenses back.
What is an indirect object?
An indirect object is the person or thing that receives the direct object of a verb. In "I gave her the book," the book is the direct object and her is the indirect object, because she receives the book. Indirect objects typically appear with verbs of giving, telling, or showing.
Is being indirect the same as being dishonest?
No. Someone who is indirect is not straightforward or open in manner, often hinting at things rather than stating them plainly, frequently out of politeness or caution. Dishonesty involves an intent to deceive, whereas an indirect person may be entirely truthful but simply roundabout in how they communicate.
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