/ˌɹidɚˈɛkt/
Say it backRedirect is a transitive verb meaning to send someone or something to another place or direction, or to aim attention toward a different objective. It can also refer to changing a process or flow, such as rerouting a URL or directing funds. In everyday use, it implies a purposeful shift rather than a casual detour. Mrs. Smith redirected the call to a colleague.
"- The manager redirected the team's efforts toward a new project."
"- Please redirect your browser to the updated page."
"- The nonprofit redirected donations to emergency relief."
Pronounce as re-DIRECT with the primary stress on the second syllable. In US English IPA: /riˈdɪrɛkt/; UK/AU often /riˈdaɪrekt/ or /riˈdɪrekt/ depending on region. Start with a light ‘ri-’ before the stressed ‘-direct’ portion; the vowel in the second syllable is a short i, and the /d/ is a clear alveolar stop, followed by /r/ in rhotic accents. Tip: keep the tongue near the alveolar ridge, release the /d/ sharply, and finish with a concise /ekt/ cluster.
Common errors: 1) Dropping the second syllable stress and saying re-DECT or ree-DIRECT; 2) Merging /dɪ/ with /r/ into a blurred vowel before the /ekt/, making it /riːdʒekt/ or /riˈdɪekt/. Correction: clearly pronounce the /d/ and then the /r/ in rhotic accents, with the /ɪ/ as a short vowel before the /d/; 3) In non-rhotic accents, the /r/ may be weak or silent before a vowel, leading to /riˈdɪɛkt/—ensure the /r/ is pronounced or faked with a rhotic vowel as appropriate. Practice with minimal pairs to isolate the /dɪ/ vs /daɪ/ sequences.
US English often uses /riˈdɪrɛkt/ with a rhotic /r/ and a short /ɪ/ in the first stressed vowel; UK and AU commonly show /riˈdaɪrekt/ or /riˈdɪrekt/, with non-rhotic variants in some contexts or speakers; UK may elide the /r/ before consonants, subtly reducing the /r/ quality, while AU tends toward /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a clearer final /t/. Focus on keeping the /d/ crisp and the final /ekt/ or /ekt/ sequence clean, avoiding vowel diphthongization in the second syllable.
It blends a voiced alveolar stop /d/ with a rolling/approximant /r/ in rhotic varieties, and places stress on the second syllable, which can draw attention away from the crisp /d/ and final /ekt/ cluster. The vowel in the first unstressed syllable can reduce to a schwa in fast speech, making the sequence /ri/ less stable. Additionally, subtle differences in /ɪ/ vs /aɪ/ during the onset can trip non-native speakers up, so practice clear articulation of /d/ and the following /r/ as a separate, rapid transition.
Redirect has a straightforward phonetic profile with no silent letters; the main features are the primary stress on the second syllable (re-DIRECT), the crisp /d/ followed by rhotic /r/ in rhotic accents, and a final /ekt/ cluster that requires tight closure and a released velar stop. The 2nd syllable’s vowel can vary slightly by accent (/ɪ/ vs /aɪ/), but the core is a robust, audible /d/ + /r/ transition leading into /ekt/.
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- US: emphasize the rhotic /r/; keep /ɪ/ as a short vowel in the second syllable; ensure the /d/ is released crisply before the /r/. - UK: the /r/ can be weaker; balance crisp /d/ with less prominent /r/, but ensure it’s not lost before a vowel. The vowels may be slightly more centralized; keep the /ɪ/ or /i/ quality consistent. - AU: similar to US but with often slightly broader vowel qualities; place emphasis on a clear /d/ and a crisp /ekt/; maintain a quick, non-melodic rhythm. IPA references: US /riˈdɪrɛkt/, UK/AU /riˈdaɪrekt/ or /riˈdɪrekt/.
Redirect comes from late Middle English redirigen, a combination of re- (again, back) and diriġen (to set straight, direct). Its ancestor lies in the Latin redirectus, from redire (to go back) and dirigere (to direct, guide). The sense evolved in English to cover both literal turning toward a different direction and metaphorical steering of attention, control, or resources. The spelling and pronunciation stabilized in the 17th–18th centuries as printing standardization grew. In modern usage, redirect commonly appears in technology (URL forwarding), defense/intelligence (redirection of operations), and everyday speech (redirecting a conversation). The verb is versatile: the object can be a person, object, or abstract target, and the particle construction is highly productive in phrasal usage (redirect to, redirect toward, redirecting). The first attestations appear in early modern texts, with growth in both nautical and bureaucratic contexts where rerouting paths or directives was frequently necessary. As digital infrastructure expanded, redirect gained prominence in computing and web lexicons, making it a staple term beyond its original navigational roots.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "redirect" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "redirect"
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