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

In Tulsa County, around 100 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, a house caught fire after it was struck by lightning. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024

New Castle is more than 100 miles northeast of Jeffersonville, where Noel lived. —Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 31 Oct. 2024

Adjective

The construction has taken place in border regions in northeast Bhutan and the west of the kingdom – near the disputed border between India and China, according to the research. —Simone McCarthy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

In the lucrative sugar plantations of northeast Brazil and the Caribbean, life expectancy was much lower than in the United States. —Ana Lucia Araujo / Made By History, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024

Noun

Millions of homes and businesses remain without power after Helene hit Florida and continued northeast, striking North Carolina and causing severe flooding in some of the state's largest cities. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 1 Oct. 2024

Apply for assistance: Residents in eight counties in northeast Tennessee can apply for individual federal aid tied to Helene. —Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 9 Oct. 2024

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