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.
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
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Bellaire, Michigan, where the resort is largely based, is around 37 miles northeast of Traverse City and around 248 miles southwest of Detroit.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
Meteorological explanation Thursday’s unusually warm temperatures across Central and South Texas developed as winds shifted out of the south and southwest, ahead of an approaching cold front and a dry line between dry and humid air masses.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026
It’s located in a part of southwest Charlotte that saw a boom in development after the completion of Interstate 485, which parallels Whitehall Park Drive.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for southwest
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Adverb
The earthquake's epicenter was situated approximately 2 miles southwest of Toms Place and occurred at a depth of just 4 miles.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Bellaire, Michigan, where the resort is largely based, is around 37 miles northeast of Traverse City and around 248 miles southwest of Detroit.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said at least 15 people were killed in the southwest, quoting the governor of Lamerd, Ali Alizadeh, as saying a sports hall, two residential areas and a hall near a school were hit.
—Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
Meteorological explanation Thursday’s unusually warm temperatures across Central and South Texas developed as winds shifted out of the south and southwest, ahead of an approaching cold front and a dry line between dry and humid air masses.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The shining stars of the property are the Fairmont Gold Suites, which occupy the southwest corners of each guest room floor.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026
It’s located in a part of southwest Charlotte that saw a boom in development after the completion of Interstate 485, which parallels Whitehall Park Drive.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for southwest
Cite this Entry
“Southwest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwest. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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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