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 the Northern Hemisphere, face southeast, and if in the Southern hemisphere, face northeast. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2024

Heading northeast, the trail cuts 14 hilly miles from Fort Funston to the piers of The Embarcadero, summiting San Francisco’s 922-foot Twin Peaks in the process. —Miles Howard, Outside Online, 17 Oct. 2024

Adjective

In 2020, Trump dominated the rural county in northeast Georgia, 80 percent to 19.4 percent. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

An advocate who creates safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people in northeast Wisconsin. —Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 31 Oct. 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