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
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
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 July 2025
However, a brief increase in shower and storm activity will be possible in areas southeast of I-71 during the afternoon.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 7 July 2025
Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025
But the country faces a larger and more daunting challenge, because this disaster — like the firestorms in Los Angeles and the hurricanes repeatedly pummeling Florida and the southeast — once again raises the question of where people can continue to safely live.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 9 July 2025
arkansasonline.com, 11 July 2025
South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
—Matthew Cupelli, IndyStar, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for southeast
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Adverb
The flooding left people trapped in homes and prompted multiple water rescues after the Rio Ruidoso rose a record-breaking 20 feet in Ruidoso, a mountain town about 180 miles southeast of Albuquerque, in the Sierra Blanca mountain range, officials said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 July 2025
However, a brief increase in shower and storm activity will be possible in areas southeast of I-71 during the afternoon.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 7 July 2025
Noun
Most launches from Vandenberg fly at a south or southeast trajectory.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025
But the country faces a larger and more daunting challenge, because this disaster — like the firestorms in Los Angeles and the hurricanes repeatedly pummeling Florida and the southeast — once again raises the question of where people can continue to safely live.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 9 July 2025
Adjective
July 7, 2007: Heavy rains of 2 to 6 inches fell across southeast Arkansas.
—arkansasonline.com, 11 July 2025
South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
—Matthew Cupelli, IndyStar, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for southeast
Cite this Entry
“Southeast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southeast. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
southeast
1 of 3 adverb
south·east
sau̇-ˈthēst 
nautical sau̇-ˈēst
: to or toward the southeast
southeast
2 of 3 noun1
: the direction between south and east
2
capitalized
: regions or countries southeast of a point that is mentioned or understood
southeast
3 of 3 adjective1
: situated toward or at the southeast
the southeast corner
2
: coming from the southeast
a southeast wind
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