northeast

1 of 3

adverb

north·​east nȯrth-ˈēst 

nautical

nȯr-ˈēst 

: 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

capitalized : 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

Adverb

Lincoln is about a 30-mile drive northeast from Sacramento. —Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 10 Feb. 2025

There is a certain hen on the Henry Zak farm northeast of Hutchinson who is looking awfully tired but mighty proud. —Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Fourteen inches of snow, coming with a 40-mile, northeast wind buried Hutchinson under snow drifts for one day. —Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

Charles Lister, director of the Middle East Institute's Syria and Countering Terrorism & Extremism programs, pointed out in an X post Monday that the freeze would also impact security at camps in northeast Syria where ISIS members and their families are held. —Ivana Saric, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025

Noun

The district’s three ambulances and roughly 20 employees service the county, a largely rural area with a population of about 8,400 northeast of Kansas City. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025

Gusty winds from the north and northeast are expected to develop Sunday, with stronger winds possible Monday night into Tuesday. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing northeast

• east-northeast
• northeast by east
• northeast by north
• north-northeast
• the northeast

Kids Definition

northeast

1 of 3 adverb

north·​east nȯr-ˈthēst 

nautical

nȯ-ˈrēst 

: 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