guide

noun
\ ˈgīd How to pronounce guide (audio) \

Definition of guide

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : one that leads or directs another's way needed a guide for the safari
b : a person who exhibits and explains points of interest The museum guide was very helpful.
c : something that provides a person with guiding information used the stars as a guide to find their way back
e : a person who directs another's conduct or course of life He was my mentor and guide during the early years of my career.
2a : a device for steadying or directing the motion of something The jigsaw was equipped with a guide.
b : a ring or loop for holding the line of a fishing rod in position
c : a sheet or a card with projecting tab for labeling inserted in a card index to facilitate reference
3 : a member of a unit on whom the movements or alignments of a military command are regulated used especially in commands guide right

guide

verb
guided; guiding

Definition of guide (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to act as a guide to : direct in a way or course He guided us around the city.
2a : to direct, supervise, or influence usually to a particular end You'll need a lawyer to guide you through the legal system.
b : to superintend the training or instruction of A respected educator guided his studies.

intransitive verb

: to act or work as a guide

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Other Words from guide

Verb

guider noun

Synonyms for guide

Synonyms: Noun

attendant, companion, escort, guard

Synonyms: Verb

coach, counsel, lead, mentor, pilot, shepherd, show, tutor

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Verb

guide, lead, steer, pilot, engineer mean to direct in a course or show the way to be followed. guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers. guided the scouts through the cave lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order. led his team to victory steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly. steered the ship through a narrow channel pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course. piloted the bill through the Senate engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan. engineered his son's election to the governorship

Examples of guide in a Sentence

Noun

We hired a guide for our trip to the mountains. He was my friend and my guide in the early years of my career. They used the stars as a guide to find their way back. If past experience is any guide, we're in for a long and difficult project.

Verb

He guided us around the city. He claims that there were unknown forces guiding the outcome of the election. He carefully guided the ship into the harbor. She guided her team to victory. Let your conscience guide you. Her example helped to guide me toward a career in medicine. In his work, he has always been guided by a desire to help other people. programs to help guide teenagers away from drug use She had a guiding influence on my decision. His guiding principle when he built his house was that bigger was better.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The horses, which range in height from 24 inches to 34 inches as measured to the shoulder and weigh up to 100 pounds, can perform a variety of tasks, including serving as guides for those with visual impairments and helping those in wheelchairs. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, "Yes, a miniature horse can be a service animal in Alabama," 20 Aug. 2019 Always remember that magic is for believers, but this column can also simply serve as a guide to getting in touch with yourself — magically or not. Lisa Stardust, Teen Vogue, "How to Practice Glamour Magic," 20 Aug. 2019 With that in mind, here are some points regarding the situation, and Brown, to serve as a guide. Albert Breer, SI.com, "Antonio Brown’s Helmet Drama Is Exactly What Jon Gruden and the Raiders Bargained For," 12 Aug. 2019 Daniel Cottrell, manager of the Smokejumper Visitor Center in Missoula, Montana, told The Washington Post that Megan worked there this summer as a tour guide. CBS News, "Dayton, Ohio, mass shooting: What we know about the victims," 5 Aug. 2019 The committee is using the recommendations in the culture assessment as a guide to prioritize issues and provide solutions to problems. oregonlive.com, "What the city of Portland says about 'extreme hazing’ that led to proposed $80,000 settlement," 30 July 2019 Use the angle of your lower lash line as a guide for where to place your flick. Hana Hong, Marie Claire, "How to Apply Liquid Eyeliner Like a Pro: A Fast and Easy Guide," 26 July 2019 According to the agenda, the town received 57 wide-ranging submissions, including: The remainder of the submissions, as well as the town’s naming rights policy that served as a guide for the committee, can be found on the town’s website. Emily Brindley, courant.com, "Committee recommends name for Simsbury’s new park," 26 July 2019 As a general guide, most friendly cats will enjoy being touched around the regions where their facial glands are located, including the base of their ears, under their chin, and around their cheeks. Lauren Robin Finka, Quartz, "How to stroke a cat, according to science," 23 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

There will be a temporary access route to guide pedestrians and bicyclists on the sidewalk across the bridge during construction. oregonlive.com, "Portland Friday traffic: Southbound Interstate Bridge closes overnight Saturday to Sunday," 23 Aug. 2019 During a summer engineering internship at Adobe’s New York City office in 2016, Diana Navarro, then a junior at Rutgers University studying computer science, was assigned a male mentor to guide her work on the company’s photo-editing products. Nitasha Tiku, WIRED, "For Young Female Coders, Internship Interviews Can Be Toxic," 22 Aug. 2019 The concessionaire team would be part of a 55-year partnership that state officials seek to guide the project finance largely by tolls. al, "Mobile officials, citing toll opposition, postpone vote on I-10 project until October," 21 Aug. 2019 Despite previously having sold a 10% stake to NFL side San Francisco 49ers, Radrizzani is determined to guide the former Premier league giants back to the big time. SI.com, "Leeds United Owner Andrea Radrizzani Rules Out Selling the Club But Would Welcome Further Investment," 20 Aug. 2019 Your Shot photographer Neelima Azad used a central leading line to guide our eyes straight through a scene of goats being brought to a market to be sacrificed for Eid al-Adha in Dubai. Kristen Mcnicholas, National Geographic, "Your best photos of the week, August 16, 2019," 16 Aug. 2019 But as ways to stimulate domestic activity with monetary policy look increasingly tapped out, less explicit attempts to guide currency prices — by changing rates and buying bonds — might become a more important part of central bankers’ playbooks. Karl Russell, New York Times, "As Recession Concerns Mount, Dozens of Central Banks Are Cutting Rates," 15 Aug. 2019 David Lynch is likewise able to guide viewers through nightmarish but strangely compelling avenues into uncharted, unimagined territories. Neil Young, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Vitalina Varela': Film Review | Locarno 2019," 14 Aug. 2019 The second is to guide students in navigating and learning life tools such as communicating, problem solving and empathy. Tyler Johnson, Houston Chronicle, "New teacher at Alexander Middle School eager for class to start," 14 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'guide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of guide

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for guide

Noun and Verb

Middle English gide, guide, from Anglo-French, from Old Occitan guida, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English wītan to look after, witan to know — more at wit

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