1
a
: the general direction between south and west
b
: the point midway between the south and west compass points
2
capitalized
: regions or countries lying to the southwest of a specified or implied point of orientation
especially
: the southwestern part of the U.S.
1
: coming from the southwest
a southwest wind
2
: situated toward or at the southwest
the southwest corner
Examples of southwest in a Sentence
Adverb
It's about 80 miles southwest of here.
Noun
A mountain range is in the southwest of the country.
These plants grow in the Southwest.
Adjective
the southwest corner of the building
Recent Examples on the Web
Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
Hayesville is about 100 miles southwest of Asheville and nearly 220 miles west of Charlotte.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2025
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported that excavation was conducted at Jabal Sukari, located southwest of the town of Marsa Alam in the Red Sea Governorate, according to a Facebook post published on Feb. 25.
—Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025
Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
With Trump relying heavily on CBP to secure the southwest border and ICE to conduct arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants, the shake-up could reshape immigration enforcement and federal governance.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for southwest
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Adverb
The earthquake was recorded about 16 miles southwest of Ackerly, which is roughly 60 miles northwest of Midland and 320 miles west of Dallas.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
Hayesville is about 100 miles southwest of Asheville and nearly 220 miles west of Charlotte.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
Portions of north central, southwest and west central Nebraska could see between 2 and 5 inches of snow, as well as gusts up to 65 mph.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported that excavation was conducted at Jabal Sukari, located southwest of the town of Marsa Alam in the Red Sea Governorate, according to a Facebook post published on Feb. 25.
—Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Vehicles frozen shut after water main break floods southwest Detroit
Crews in southwest Detroit were working to free cars from ice holding them in place after floodwaters froze amid a blast of Arctic air this week.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
With Trump relying heavily on CBP to secure the southwest border and ICE to conduct arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants, the shake-up could reshape immigration enforcement and federal governance.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for southwest
Cite this Entry
“Southwest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwest. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
southwest
1 of 3 adverb
south·west
sau̇th-ˈwest 
nautical sau̇-ˈwest
: to or toward the southwest
southwest
2 of 3 noun1
: the direction between south and west
2
capitalized
: regions or countries southwest of a point that is mentioned or understood
southwest
3 of 3 adjective1
: coming from the southwest
a southwest wind
2
: situated toward or at the southwest
the southwest corner
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