Meaning & use
directionals
Last updated
“directionals” is a form of “directional”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounusually pluralinformalAmerican
The blinking lights on a vehicle that show which way the driver intends to turn.
Grammar: Usually plural: she turned on the directionals.
Patterns
- turn on the directionals
- use your directionals
The driver forgot to use her directionals before turning left.
Check that both directionals are working before the road test.
He flicked on the directionals and moved into the exit lane.
nounusually pluralinformal
Signs, markers or instructions that help people find their way to a place.
Grammar: Often used in a list: directionals to the parking lot.
Patterns
- directionals to somewhere
The venue put up directionals for the visitors' parking.
The map includes directionals to the nearest hospital.
Look for the blue directionals near the entrance.
Word forms
| singular | directional |
|---|
Common combinations
- use your directionals
- Please use your directionals when changing lanes.
- flash the directionals
- A car flashed its directionals but did not turn.
- broken directionals
- The mechanic found broken directionals during the inspection.
- left and right directionals
- The left and right directionals blink at the same speed.
- directionals for the parking lot
- We followed directionals for the parking lot.
Synonyms and how they differ
- turn signals
- Turn signals is the standard phrase and is understood everywhere, while directionals is mostly regional and informal.
- blinkers
- Blinkers is an informal American word for the same lights and is a bit more casual than directionals.
- indicators
- Indicators is the British word and is the term used in UK driving tests.
- signposts
- Signposts are fixed signs along a route, which only matches the second sense of directionals.
Word family
- direction noun
- the way something faces or moves
- directional adjective
- relating to direction
- directionally adverb
- in terms of direction
- direct verb
- to point or show the way
Commonly confused: directionals or directions?
directionals vs directions
Directions are spoken or written instructions for getting somewhere, while directionals are the lights or markers that show the way.
Practice
The driving examiner reminded him to use his ___ before turning.
Choose one answer.
Directionals are the blinking turn lights on a car. The other words are different words that cannot name vehicle lights.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “directionals”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.