directs

Directs is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb direct. The verb direct has several core meanings: to guide or oversee the execution of something; to aim or point toward a destination; and to provide instructions or leadership. As a transitive verb, directs takes a direct object such as a project, a team, a process, or instructions.

Examples show the range of usage: “The manager directs the department,” “The roadmap directs the project timeline,” and “The sign directs pedestrians to the exit.” Beyond leadership and management, direct can mean to point or channel, as in “The spotlight directs attention to the stage.” The term is common in business, film and theatre, education, and public safety (as in directing traffic). The past tense is directed, and the related noun form is director.

Etymology and related forms: Direct derives from Old French directer, from Latin directus, meaning straight or guided. The sense of guiding or controlling behavior developed over time, giving rise to forms such as direction, directive, and director.

See also: direction, directive, director, guidance.