guide

American  

[gahyd] / gaɪd /

verb (used with object)

guided, guiding

1. to assist (a person) to travel through, or reach a destination in, an unfamiliar area, as by accompanying or giving directions to the person.

   He guided us through the forest.

   Synonyms:

   escort, steer, pilot

   Antonyms:

   follow

2. to accompany (a sightseer) to show points of interest and to explain their meaning or significance.

3. to force (a person, object, or animal) to move in a certain path.

4. to supply (a person) with advice or counsel, as in practical or spiritual affairs.

5. to supervise (someone's actions or affairs) in an advisory capacity.

   Synonyms:

   rule, govern, manage, regulate

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noun

1. a person who guides, especially one hired to guide travelers, tourists, hunters, etc.

   Synonyms:

   conductor, director, pilot

2. a mark, tab, or the like, to catch the eye and thus provide quick reference.

   Synonyms:

   clue, key, indication, signal, sign

3. a guidebook.

4. a book, pamphlet, etc., giving information, instructions, or advice; handbook.

   an investment guide.

5. a guidepost.

6. a device that regulates or directs progressive motion or action.

   a sewing-machine guide.

7. a spirit believed to direct the utterances of a medium.

8. Military. a member of a group marching in formation who sets the pattern of movement or alignment for the rest.

guide ¹ British  

/ ɡaɪd /

verb

1. to lead the way for (a person)

2. to control the movement or course of (an animal, vehicle, etc) by physical action; steer

3. to supervise or instruct (a person)

4. (tr) to direct the affairs of (a person, company, nation, etc)

   he guided the country through the war

5. (tr) to advise or influence (a person) in his standards or opinions

   let truth guide you always

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noun

1. 1. a person, animal, or thing that guides

   2. ( as modifier )

      a guide dog

2. a person, usually paid, who conducts tour expeditions, etc

3. a model or criterion, as in moral standards or accuracy

4. See guidebook

5. a book that instructs or explains the fundamentals of a subject or skill

   a guide to better living

6. any device that directs the motion of a tool or machine part

7. 1. a mark, sign, etc, that points the way

   2. ( in combination )

      guidepost

8. spiritualism a spirit believed to influence a medium so as to direct what he utters and convey messages through him

9. 1. navy a ship in a formation used as a reference for manoeuvres, esp with relation to maintaining the correct formation and disposition

   2. military a soldier stationed to one side of a column or line to regulate alignment, show the way, etc

Guide ² British  

/ ɡaɪd /

noun

1. US equivalent: Girl Scout.  (sometimes not capital) a member of an organization for girls equivalent to the Scouts

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Usage

What are other ways to say guide?

To guide someone is to assist them in traveling through or in reaching a destination by accompanying them or giving them directions. How does guide compare to synonyms conduct, direct, and lead? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

• guidable adjective
• guideless adjective
• guider noun
• guiding adjective
• guidingly adverb
• nonguidable adjective
• preguide verb (used with object)
• reguide verb (used with object)
• unguidable adjective

Etymology

Origin of guide

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English giden (verb), gide (noun), from Old French gui(d)er (verb), gui(d)e (noun), from Germanic; akin to wit ² ( def. )

Explanation

A guide is someone who shows you the way. You'd be lucky to have a kind older sibling to act as your guide through middle school, giving you advice and helping you figure out the school and social scenes. A guide often leads tourists through a city, taking them to important sites, or assists a group of mountain climbers. Another kind of guide is a book of helpful instructions about what to see in a particular country, how to get along with your teenager, or the best way to grow orchids. When you guide people, you help them find their way, whether it's through the New York subway system or through the steps of building a campfire.

Example Sentences

WSJ | Buy Side: See our guide to finding budget-friendly pet insurance without compromising on care.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

She's seen a steady rise in the number of people viewing her guide to Albania in recent years.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

These patterns, known as invariant statistical properties, are then used to guide the training of an AI model running on a conventional supercomputer.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

There’s a tour and there’s a guide, and the guide starts to tell you what you should think.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

‘What guide? Why must I find the Mountain? Will I be safe there? Is that it? Safe from the bear?’

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• accompany
• advise
• educate
• escort
• govern
• handle
• influence
• instruct
• manage
• maneuver
• navigate
• oversee
• regulate
• see
• shepherd
• steer
• supervise
• sway
• teach
• train