northeast

1 of 3

adverb

north·​east nȯrth-ˈēst How to pronounce northeast (audio)
nautical
nȯr-ˈēst How to pronounce northeast (audio)
: to, toward, or in the northeast

northeast

2 of 3

adjective

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

northeast

3 of 3

noun

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

Examples of northeast in a Sentence

Adverb It's a few miles northeast of here. We left the city and headed northeast. Adjective My office is in the northeast corner of the building. Noun A mountain range is in the northeast of the country. Parts of the Northeast were hit hard by the storm. I grew up in the Northeast.
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
From the Red Line, exit at the Buckhead station and walk two blocks northeast. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 1 July 2026 Lexington is about a 60-mile drive northeast from uptown Charlotte. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
Adjective
As the forecast low pressure area forms offshore of northeast Florida and the Georgia coast, normal rain chances are in store for the Orlando area. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026 Beginning around noon on Monday and lasting through at least Wednesday night, afternoon heat indices in parts of northwest and northeast Illinois will reach up to 105 degrees. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
Noun
In the state’s rural northeast, the conditions were also ripe for measles to spread. — Devi Shastri, Fortune, 20 June 2026 In the state's rural northeast, the conditions were also ripe for measles to spread. — ABC News, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for northeast

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

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

Noun

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

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

Phrases Containing northeast

Rhymes for northeast

See All Rhymes for northeast

Browse Nearby Words

North Downs
northeast
northeast by east
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Northeast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northeast. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

northeast

1 of 3 adverb
north·​east nȯr-ˈthēst How to pronounce northeast (audio)
nautical
nȯ-ˈrēst How to pronounce northeast (audio)
: to or toward the northeast

northeast

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

northeast

3 of 3 adjective
1
: placed or lying toward or at the northeast
the northeast corner
2
: coming from the northeast
a northeast wind

More from Merriam-Webster on northeast

Nglish: Translation of northeast for Spanish Speakers

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