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Direct vs Instruct - What's the difference?

direct | instruct |

As adjectives the difference between direct and instruct

is that direct is straight, constant, without interruption while instruct is arranged; furnished; provided.

As verbs the difference between direct and instruct

is that direct is to manage, control, steer while instruct is to teach by giving instructions.

As an adverb direct

is directly.

As a noun instruct is

instruction.

direct

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Straight, constant, without interruption.
  • Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end.
    • the most direct route between two buildings
  • Straightforward; sincere.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Be even and direct with me.
  • Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous.
  • * John Locke
    • He nowhere, that I know, says it in direct words.
  • * Hallam
    • a direct and avowed interference with elections
  • In the line of descent; not collateral.
    • a descendant in the direct line
  • (astronomy) In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east; in the order of the signs; not retrograde; said of the motion of a celestial body.

    • Antonyms

    * indirect

    Derived terms

    * direct action * direct current * direct flight * direct initiative * direct object * direct quote

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Directly.
  • * 2009 , Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall , Fourth Estate 2010, p. 346:
    • Presumably Mary is to carry messages that she, Anne, is too delicate to convey direct .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To manage, control, steer.
    • to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army
  • To aim (something) at (something else).
    • They directed their fire towards the men on the wall.
    He directed his question to the room in general.
  • To point out or show to (somebody) the right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way.
    • He directed me to the left-hand road.
  • * Lubbock
    • the next points to which I will direct your attention
  • To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to order.
    • She directed them to leave immediately.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I'll first direct my men what they shall do.
  • (dated) To put a direction or address upon; to mark with the name and residence of the person to whom anything is sent.
    • to direct a letter

    Related terms

    * direction * directly * director * adroit * dirge * dirigible * dress

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    instruct

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) to teach by giving instructions
  • (label) to direct; to order (usage note : "instruct" is less forceful than "order", but weightier than "advise")

    • Synonyms

    * guide

    Related terms

    * instruction * instructor

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (label) instruction

    • Adjective

    (-)
  • (label) arranged; furnished; provided
  • * Chapman
  • (label) instructed; taught; enlightened
    • (Milton)