southwest

1 of 3

adverb

south·​west sau̇th-ˈwest 

nautical sau̇-ˈwest

: to, toward, or in the southwest

southwest

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: the general direction between south and west

b

: the point midway between the south and west compass points

2

Southwest : regions or countries lying to the southwest of a specified or implied point of orientation

especially : the southwestern part of the U.S.

southwest

3 of 3

adjective

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

Adverb

Southside Park Located a few miles southwest of uptown Charlotte, Southside Park is a small neighborhood with more than 2,200 residents. —Chase Jordan march 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026

The Arak heavy water reactor, 155 miles southwest of Tehran, was never completed before those June strikes. —CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

Noun

Winds will kick up from the southwest during the day at 10-20 mph with some gusts over 25. —Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

Forest’s death has sparked an outpouring of sympathy in his hometown of Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, southwest of Montreal. —Philip Marcelo, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Anyone with a busted NCAA Tournament bracket can still appreciate the bracket one mom has put up on her family's wall in Chicago's southwest suburbs. —Noel Brennan, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026

Summergate Development, based in Lakeville, is proposing a residential development of 73 homes to be called Eastridge Heights at the southwest corner of Bailey Road and Sterling Avenue. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

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

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing southwest

• south-southwest
• southwest by south
• southwest by west
• west-southwest

Rhymes for southwest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed

Kids Definition

southwest

1 of 3 adverb

south·​west sau̇th-ˈwest 

nautical sau̇-ˈwest

: to or toward the southwest

southwest

2 of 3 noun

1

: the direction between south and west

2

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

southwest

3 of 3 adjective

1

: coming from the southwest

a southwest wind

2

: situated toward or at the southwest

the southwest corner