southeast

1 of 3

adverb

south·​east sau̇th-ˈēst How to pronounce southeast (audio)
nautical sau̇-ˈēst
: to, toward, or in the southeast

southeast

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: the general direction between south and east
b
: the point midway between the south and east compass points
2
Southeast : regions or countries lying to the southeast of a specified or implied point of orientation

southeast

3 of 3

adjective

1
: coming from the southeast
a southeast wind
2
: situated toward or at the southeast
the southeast corner

Examples of southeast in a Sentence

Adverb It's a few miles southeast of here. Noun A mountain range is in the southeast of the country. Rain is moving into the Southeast. He grew up in the Southeast. Adjective My office is in the southeast corner of the building.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Hatteras is about a 250-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026 On a recent Wednesday afternoon, Lourdes Tañon, a resident of Trujillo Alto, a municipality southeast of San Juan, was on her way to check the cistern at the home of her mother. — Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
Independent news channels on Russian and Ukrainian Telegram claimed the drone strikes set fire to a major oil refinery in Kirishi, southeast of St Petersburg. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Wildfire smoke from the Ross Fire will move south/southeast this afternoon and evening. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The lightning strikes in Margate and Boynton Beach accompanied numerous clusters of thunderstorms in the area and across most of southeast Florida that afternoon, according to AccuWeather. — David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Bleacher seats lower-level east side and southeast side seats for students and the band also are ready for occupancy. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for southeast

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

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

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of southeast was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing southeast

Rhymes for southeast

See All Rhymes for southeast

Browse Nearby Words

South Dublin
southeast
Southeast Asia
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southeast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southeast. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

southeast

1 of 3 adverb
south·​east sau̇-ˈthēst How to pronounce southeast (audio)
nautical sau̇-ˈēst
: to or toward the southeast

southeast

2 of 3 noun
1
: the direction between south and east
2
capitalized : regions or countries southeast of a point that is mentioned or understood

southeast

3 of 3 adjective
1
: situated toward or at the southeast
the southeast corner
2
: coming from the southeast
a southeast wind
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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