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

White Bear Township is about a 20-mile drive northeast from Minneapolis. —Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2025

Lawrenceville is about a 30-mile drive northeast from downtown Atlanta. —Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, whose northeast San Fernando Valley district has experienced major hillside fires in recent years, also slammed Bass’ decision. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2025

Hixson is about a 10-mile drive northeast form Chattanooga. —Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025

Noun

Brazil has built one million cisterns in its semiarid northeast to ensure adequate water supplies during extended dry seasons. —Alice Hill, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2025

Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties will see north to northeast gusts between 20 and 40 mph, with isolated gusts of 40 to 50 mph. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 7 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

Rhymes for northeast

• deceased
• decreased
• increased
• policed
• released
• southeast
• beast
• ceased
• creased
• east
• feast
• fleeced

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