Collocations for direction - noun

same
They were both going in the same direction.

different, opposing, opposite, reverse, separate (esp. AmE)
We are pulled in opposing directions by our emotions.
The ride in the reverse direction is a mere $4.
We both walked off in separate directions.

right, wrong
Unfortunately, we were going in the wrong direction.

general
I fired in the general direction of the officer's head, and missed.

expected (esp. AmE), predicted
America has not moved in the expected direction.
the predicted direction of climate change in the near term

unexpected
Support came from an unexpected direction.

clockwise
Turn the dial in a clockwise direction.

anticlockwise (BrE), counterclockwise (AmE)
downward, upward
These figures may have to be revised in an upward direction.

backward, forward
She shoved Sarah in the general forward direction.

northerly, southerly, etc.
The current flows in a south-easterly direction.

east-west, north-south
The runway was constructed in a north-south direction.

horizontal, vertical
A scanner deflects the laser beam in horizontal and vertical directions.

random
He started to run in a random direction.

cardinal, compass (both esp. AmE)
a house oriented exactly to the cardinal directions
I measured the distance and compass direction between successive positions.

wind
When sailing, keep a constant check on changes in wind direction.

take
Which direction do we have to take?

change, reverse, switch
The wind had changed direction.
What happens if you reverse the direction of the current?
Suddenly, the wind switched directions.

flow in, go in, go off in
follow, head in, move in, travel in
Dan followed the direction the sign had pointed.
The convoy is moving in the direction of the capital.

veer in, veer off in
While he was studying in Paris, his thinking suddenly veered off in a new direction.

come from, come in
He was hit by a truck coming in the opposite direction.

face, face in
I didn't see the accident because I was facing in the opposite direction.

glance in, look in, nod in, point in
She glanced in his direction.
‘Look!’ she said, pointing in the direction of the coast.

indicate, point out
The adults gazed in the direction indicated.

nudge sb in, point sb in
We have to nudge politicians in the right direction.
I can't come with you, but I can point you in the general direction.

pull (sb/sth) in (often figurative)
There are different considerations, pulling in different directions.

from a/the direction
There was shriek of laughter from the direction of Sarah's room.
Let's approach the subject from a different direction.

in a/the direction
The aircraft was flying in a northerly direction.

the direction of flow, the direction of movement, the direction of travel
I prefer to be facing the direction of travel.

the direction of sb's gaze
She followed the direction of his gaze.

from all directions, from both directions
People came running from all directions.

in all directions, in both directions
The blast sent debris flying in all directions.
The road was blocked in both directions.

a glance in sb/sth's direction, a nod in sb/sth's direction
People passed by without a glance in her direction.
The report gives a brief nod in the direction of green issues (= mentions them briefly). (figurative)

a sense of direction
I don't have much sense of direction.

in any particular direction, in no particular direction
The story does not go in any particular direction.
She stalked away, in no particular direction.

new
The party must take a new direction if it is to survive.

right, wrong
desired
These incentives should move the industry in the desired direction.

positive
I felt the company was headed in a positive direction.
a step to change your life in a positive direction

promising
This points to a promising new direction for cancer research.

clear
No clear direction in policy can be identified.

future
the debate about the future direction of socialism

policy, strategic
His understanding of our business will further strengthen our strategic direction.

take
It is hard to know which direction the Church will take.

change, shift (esp. AmE)
It's time to change direction and find a new job.
The company needed to shift direction if it was going to survive.

go in, move in
At least things are moving in the right direction now.

influence, shape
the critical decisions that shape the direction of our lives

determine
First determine the direction of your expected business growth.
She's a young woman, determining the direction of her life.

set
The proposals aim to set a new direction for local government.

indicate
The recommendations indicate possible directions for further studies.

a change of direction
This was a major change of direction for Britain's foreign policy.

a shift in direction
The book signals a shift in direction from her earlier novels.

a step in … direction
The first step in this direction will be a discussion with the unions.

a step in the right direction, a step in the wrong direction
The new law is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but it doesn't go far enough.

in one direction
I was being pushed in one direction.
The market is moving primarily in one direction.

clear
Do not let the discussion fragment into a desultory conversation with no clear direction.

be lacking in (esp. BrE), lack
Once again her life felt lacking in direction.

a sense of direction
We are looking for somebody with a clear sense of direction.

clear, good, precise, specific
Isabel's directions are always very precise.
The teacher gives specific directions and corrects your pose.

step-by-step
Each card has step-by-step directions on one side.

easy-to-follow
Each chapter includes easy-to-follow directions for a variety of activities.

stage
Shakespeare's famous stage direction, ‘Exit, pursued by a bear.’

driving
Internet sites that offer everything from driving directions to subway maps

online
Just follow the online directions to take the quiz.

label (AmE)
Follow label directions for best results.

ask, ask for
Let's stop and ask for directions.

give sb, provide
Can you give me directions for getting to John's?
signs providing directions to the new concert hall.

get
We got directions to the hall from a man in the town.

follow
Just follow the directions on the box.

direction for
Are there any directions for putting up the tent?

direction to
Can you give me directions to the post office?

clear
In effective classrooms the teacher provided clear direction.

strategic
the strategic direction of the company

spiritual
The monarch looks to the archbishop for spiritual direction.

government
All such research is under government direction.

give sb, provide (sb with)

under sb's direction
They work under the direction of a senior manager.

direction from
The new workers need direction from a supervisor.