1
: situated toward or at the north
the north entrance
2
: coming from the north
a north wind
1
a
: the direction of the north terrestrial pole : the direction to the left of one facing east
b
: the compass point directly opposite to south
2
capitalized
a
: regions or countries lying to the north of a specified or implied point of orientation
b
: the industrially and economically developed nations of the world compare south sense 5
3
often capitalized
a
: the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the north or at the top of a diagram
b
: a person occupying this position in the course of a specified activity (such as the game of bridge)
Examples of north in a Sentence
Adverb
Turn north onto Elm Street.
It's a few miles north of here.
The bird is found as far north as Canada.
Noun
The wind is coming from the north.
The birds migrate from the North.
Parts of the North were hit hard by the storm.
I grew up in the North.
The American Civil War was between the North and the South.
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2024
The 39-year-old Turner moves north after hitting .276 with 23 home runs, a career-best 96 RBI and an .800 OPS for the Boston Red Sox last year.
—Brian Robin, Orange County Register, 18 Apr. 2024
Nearby cameras captured the black SUV turn north from North 12th Street onto Dos Rios, according to Crime Stoppers.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024
In its selection for a new civilian police watchdog, San Jose ultimately landed about 50 miles north.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
Participating shops can be found as far north as Carmel Valley and as far south as Barrio Logan and Coronado.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
People reported feeling the shaking as far north as Maine and as far south as Norfolk, Virginia, following the quake, according to the USGS.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
There is a crash on the ramp from I-75 north to Davis Street in Lockland.
—The Enquirer, 8 Apr. 2024
Some reported feeling tremors in Connecticut, Rhode Island and as far north as Vermont and New Hampshire.
—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
Al Shifa is one of the few healthcare facilities even partially operational in north Gaza, and - like others - had also been housing some of the nearly 2 million civilians - over 80% of Gaza's population - displaced by the war.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
Focus areas for Safe Zone will be on Detroit’s north and south sides spanning from Curtis Avenue to Schoolcraft Road, and east and west orders from Wyoming Avenue to Hubbell Street.
—Detroit Free Press, 26 Aug. 2023
Currie Commons is a 187-unit complex under construction in the Harrison neighborhood of north Minneapolis, where the poverty rate exceeds 30%.
—Mark Niquette and Augusta Saraiva, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Aug. 2023
Storms on Tuesday afternoon took down a lot of trees and caused other wind damage in north Alabama.
—Leigh Morgan, al, 19 July 2023
Six minutes later, San Diego Police and California Highway Patrol received calls about a rollover crash involving a white convertible on north Interstate 805 at Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, police said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2023
In a moment, the Pacific Plate shifted north by an average of 15 feet relative to its North American partner.
—WIRED, 15 June 2023
Some north Alabama counties have been dropped from the watch, but others have been added to the south: Storms overnight could be packing damaging wind gusts and hail, forecasters said.
—Leigh Morgan, al, 11 June 2023
Julia Hobsbawm, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024
Great black bear hunting up here in north Minnesota with Lee Greenly.
—Rene Ebersole, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
Latte Beige For mani minimalists, neutral nails will be your north star.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 19 Apr. 2024
Last summer, the Common Council voted 16-4 in favor of the pilot program, which will run in Madison's north district until July 14.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Amy and Justin Schneider’s restaurant has roamed all over north Tarrant County to four different locations from downtown to the Wise County line.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2024
The office building that’s in default is located at 10 West Tasman Drive in north San Jose, according to documents on file in Santa Clara County and at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Confidence: Medium-High A weak storm zips out of the Great Lakes on Sunday just to our north.
—David Streit, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
The moon's shadow cools a column of air that will move from south to north across the U.S., mixing things up.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
Adverb
Next up: Sporting KC heads north to St. Paul, Minnesota.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2024
The 39-year-old Turner moves north after hitting .276 with 23 home runs, a career-best 96 RBI and an .800 OPS for the Boston Red Sox last year.
—Brian Robin, Orange County Register, 18 Apr. 2024
Nearby cameras captured the black SUV turn north from North 12th Street onto Dos Rios, according to Crime Stoppers.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024
In its selection for a new civilian police watchdog, San Jose ultimately landed about 50 miles north.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
Participating shops can be found as far north as Carmel Valley and as far south as Barrio Logan and Coronado.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
People reported feeling the shaking as far north as Maine and as far south as Norfolk, Virginia, following the quake, according to the USGS.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
There is a crash on the ramp from I-75 north to Davis Street in Lockland.
—The Enquirer, 8 Apr. 2024
Some reported feeling tremors in Connecticut, Rhode Island and as far north as Vermont and New Hampshire.
—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Around 1902, the village of Pembroke sprouted near present-day Carver Ranches, and many of the early settlers were from north Florida.
—Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
Al Shifa is one of the few healthcare facilities even partially operational in north Gaza, and - like others - had also been housing some of the nearly 2 million civilians - over 80% of Gaza's population - displaced by the war.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
Focus areas for Safe Zone will be on Detroit’s north and south sides spanning from Curtis Avenue to Schoolcraft Road, and east and west orders from Wyoming Avenue to Hubbell Street.
—Detroit Free Press, 26 Aug. 2023
Currie Commons is a 187-unit complex under construction in the Harrison neighborhood of north Minneapolis, where the poverty rate exceeds 30%.
—Mark Niquette and Augusta Saraiva, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Aug. 2023
Storms on Tuesday afternoon took down a lot of trees and caused other wind damage in north Alabama.
—Leigh Morgan, al, 19 July 2023
Six minutes later, San Diego Police and California Highway Patrol received calls about a rollover crash involving a white convertible on north Interstate 805 at Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, police said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2023
In a moment, the Pacific Plate shifted north by an average of 15 feet relative to its North American partner.
—WIRED, 15 June 2023
Some north Alabama counties have been dropped from the watch, but others have been added to the south: Storms overnight could be packing damaging wind gusts and hail, forecasters said.
—Leigh Morgan, al, 11 June 2023
Noun
When outsourcing and globalization arrived, migration for work became internal: A million Americans have moved from north to south already, and an Upwork study predicted up to 10 percent of the entire workforce will ultimately move physically as the remote work revolution gains traction.
—Julia Hobsbawm, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024
Great black bear hunting up here in north Minnesota with Lee Greenly.
—Rene Ebersole, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
Latte Beige For mani minimalists, neutral nails will be your north star.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 19 Apr. 2024
Last summer, the Common Council voted 16-4 in favor of the pilot program, which will run in Madison's north district until July 14.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Amy and Justin Schneider’s restaurant has roamed all over north Tarrant County to four different locations from downtown to the Wise County line.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2024
The office building that’s in default is located at 10 West Tasman Drive in north San Jose, according to documents on file in Santa Clara County and at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Confidence: Medium-High A weak storm zips out of the Great Lakes on Sunday just to our north.
—David Streit, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
The moon's shadow cools a column of air that will move from south to north across the U.S., mixing things up.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'north.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near north
Cite this Entry
“North.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/north. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
north
1 of 3 adverb
: to or toward the north
north
2 of 3 adjective1
: placed or lying toward or at the north
the north entrance
2
: coming from the north
a north wind
north
3 of 3 noun1
a
: the direction to the left of one facing east
b
: the compass point opposite to south
2
capitalized
: regions or countries north of a point that is mentioned or understood
Biographical Definition
North
2 of 3biographical name (2)
Frederick 1732–1792 Lord North English statesman; prime minister (1770–82)
North
3 of 3biographical name (3)
Sir Thomas 1535–?1603 English translator
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