southeast

1 of 3

adverb

south·​east sau̇th-ˈēst 

nautical sau̇-ˈēst

: to, toward, or in the southeast

southeast

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: the general direction between south and east

b

: the point midway between the south and east compass points

2

Southeast : regions or countries lying to the southeast of a specified or implied point of orientation

southeast

3 of 3

adjective

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

Adverb

The earthquake struck at a depth of 15 miles, with its epicenter about 10 miles southeast of Yosemite Valley. —Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026

As per a Reuters report, the Japanese test mining vessel Chikyu departed on Monday from the port city of Shizuoka for waters near Minamitori Island, a remote coral atoll about 1,900 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026

Noun

This first three-dimensional cross-sectional image goes 11 miles) below the crater and shows what appear to be various pools of magma at different depths, with rock or other material between them and more numerous toward the southeast of the crater. —Arkansas Online, 11 Jan. 2026

Protests also appeared to happen in Kerman, 800 kilometers (500 miles) southeast of Tehran. —Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Rain to start Tuesday in Oklahoma On Tuesday and Wednesday, the southeast corner of Oklahoma could see light rain, with a 40-60% chance of rainfall forecast in the Durant and Ardmore area. —Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 20 Jan. 2026

Forecasters warned Monday that freezing temperatures are possible overnight into Tuesday across much of north-central Florida and southeast Georgia. —CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing southeast

• east-southeast
• southeast by east
• southeast by south
• south-southeast

Rhymes for southeast

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

Kids Definition

southeast

1 of 3 adverb

south·​east sau̇-ˈthēst 

nautical sau̇-ˈēst

: to or toward the southeast

southeast

2 of 3 noun

1

: the direction between south and east

2

capitalized : regions or countries southeast of a point that is mentioned or understood

southeast

3 of 3 adjective

1

: situated toward or at the southeast

the southeast corner

2

: coming from the southeast

a southeast wind