southwest

1 of 3

adverb

south·​west sau̇th-ˈwest How to pronounce southwest (audio)
nautical sau̇-ˈwest
: to, toward, or in the southwest

southwest

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: the general direction between south and west
b
: the point midway between the south and west compass points
2
Southwest : regions or countries lying to the southwest of a specified or implied point of orientation
especially : the southwestern part of the U.S.

southwest

3 of 3

adjective

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

Examples of southwest in a Sentence

Adverb It's about 80 miles southwest of here. Noun A mountain range is in the southwest of the country. These plants grow in the Southwest. Adjective the southwest 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
Photos of a coastal funnel cloud were posted on social media Monday, but forecasters have determined those photos are of a storm in Bettie, about 16 miles southwest of Cedar Island. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026 Twenty-five miles southwest of Madison, chalet-style restaurants and shops adorned with flower boxes line First Street. — Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
Prisoners Harbor Campground is about a 13-mile hike southwest from Scorpion Canyon Campground, the popular 31-site spot where most folks visiting the island camp. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Besides taking in the beauty of the Milky Way core, visible just after sunset toward the southwest, travelers can also try spotting the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). — Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Raised in a one-parent house in Shellman — a rural farming town in southwest Georgia — his mother moved 40 miles away to Eufala, Alabama, for a higher-paying job when Davis was in 11th grade to help pay the bills. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 What started out with a kiss between two Democratic officials in a local township office has devolved into a southwest suburban political soap opera with the potential to reshape competitive races for Congress and the Cook County Board. — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for southwest

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

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

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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

Phrases Containing southwest

Rhymes for southwest

See All Rhymes for southwest

Browse Nearby Words

Southwark
southwest
southwest by south
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southwest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwest. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

southwest

1 of 3 adverb
south·​west sau̇th-ˈwest How to pronounce southwest (audio)
nautical sau̇-ˈwest
: to or toward the southwest

southwest

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

southwest

3 of 3 adjective
1
: coming from the southwest
a southwest wind
2
: situated toward or at the southwest
the southwest corner

More from Merriam-Webster on southwest

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about southwest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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