northwest

1 of 3

adverb

north·​west nȯrth-ˈwest 

nautical

nȯr-ˈwest 

: to, toward, or in the northwest

northwest

2 of 3

adjective

1

: coming from the northwest

a northwest wind

2

: situated toward or at the northwest

the northwest corner

northwest

3 of 3

noun

1

a

: the general direction between north and west

b

: the point midway between the north and west compass points

2

capitalized : regions or countries lying to the northwest of a specified or implied point of orientation

Examples of northwest in a Sentence

Adverb

It's about 80 miles northwest of here.

I headed northwest on Route 1.

Adjective

the northwest corner of the building

Noun

A mountain range is in the northwest of the country.

We traveled throughout the Northwest.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

One fire claimed a woman's life in Millbury, about 15 miles northwest of where Johnson is accused of starting a fire over the weekend. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024

That August, two hours northwest of Philadelphia, in the Mississippi Delta county of Leflore, a Black fourteen-year-old from Chicago, Emmett Till, was visiting family. —Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Police were notified Monday of a threat to shoot up a polling location on Detroit's northwest side, Detroit Police confirmed to the Free Press. —Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 4 Nov. 2024

Located in northwest Montana, the park is a year-round destination where visitors can hike, swim, see fall foliage, and cross-country ski — all while admiring the mountain views. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2024

Noun

Bhutan’s official maps have lost a parcel of land to its northwest and the Menchuma valley and plateau in its northeast, according to Barnett. —Simone McCarthy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

Russian forces also made gains southeast of Kupiansk and northwest of Kreminna, the ISW reported, with video released by Ukrainian forces showing them repelling a platoon-sized Russian mechanized assault in the Lyman direction. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 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 1

Noun

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

Phrases Containing northwest

• north-northwest
• northwest by north
• northwest by west
• the northwest
• west-northwest

Kids Definition

northwest

1 of 3 adverb

north·​west nȯrth-ˈwest 

nautical

nȯr-ˈwest 

: to or toward the northwest

northwest

2 of 3 noun

1

: the direction between north and west

2

capitalized : the regions or countries northwest of a point that is mentioned or understood

northwest

3 of 3 adjective

1

: coming from the northwest

a northwest wind

2

: placed or lying toward or at the northwest

the northwest corner

Geographical Definition

North West

geographical name

variants or Noordwes

ˌnȯrd-ˈwes 

ˌnȯrt-

province of the northern part of the Republic of South Africa bordering Botswana area 44,861 square miles (116,190 square kilometers), population 3,509,953