southeast

1 of 3

adverb

south·​east sau̇th-ˈēst 

 nautical  sau̇-ˈēst

: to, toward, or in the southeast

southeast

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: the general direction between south and east

b

: the point midway between the south and east compass points

2

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

southeast

3 of 3

adjective

1

: coming from the southeast

a southeast wind

2

: situated toward or at the southeast

the southeast corner

Examples of southeast in a Sentence

Adverb

It's a few miles southeast of here.

Noun

A mountain range is in the southeast of the country.

Rain is moving into the Southeast.

He grew up in the Southeast.

Adjective

My office is in the southeast corner of the building.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Alarmed, the complaint continues, the girls became afraid and pulled over near a Dollar General, just over a mile southeast of downtown Nashville. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

After a Bible study session in 1985, Harold Swain, 66, and Thelma Swain, 63, a married couple, were killed in the vestibule of the Rising Daughter Baptist Church in Waverly, Ga., about 14 miles southeast of Waynesville. —Hank Sanders, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024

Noun

Only 13 of these wildlife portals exist in the study area stretching 102 miles, and they are bunched around San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge east of Douglas and the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area southeast of Sierra Vista. —Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 27 Nov. 2024

Weather could impact travel across southeast Ohio The National Weather Service in Pocatello, Idaho shared how weather could impact travel across the southeast of the state. —Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

Adjective

In southeast Michigan, including the Thumb, Detroit, Ann Arbor and Monroe, the weather service said one-tenth to 1.3 inches of snow is possible. —Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 27 Nov. 2024

The car was found in a pond between the Royal Inn Hotel and Interstate 95 on New Jesup Highway in southeast Georgia, police said, adding that the agency is collaborating with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

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

Phrases Containing southeast

• east-southeast
• southeast by east
• southeast by south
• south-southeast

Kids Definition

southeast

1 of 3 adverb

south·​east sau̇-ˈthēst 

 nautical  sau̇-ˈēst

: to or toward the southeast

southeast

2 of 3 noun

1

: the direction between south and east

2

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

southeast

3 of 3 adjective

1

: situated toward or at the southeast

the southeast corner

2

: coming from the southeast

a southeast wind