north

1 of 3

adverb

ˈnȯrth 

: to, toward, or in the north

see also north of

north

2 of 3

adjective

1

: situated toward or at the north

the north entrance

2

: coming from the north

a north wind

north

3 of 3

noun

1

a

: the direction of the north terrestrial pole : the direction to the left of one facing east

b

: the compass point directly opposite to south

2

capitalized

a

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

b

: the industrially and economically developed nations of the world compare south sense 5

3

often capitalized

a

: the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the north or at the top of a diagram

b

: a person occupying this position in the course of a specified activity (such as the game of bridge)

Examples of north in a Sentence

Adverb

Turn north onto Elm Street.

It's a few miles north of here.

The bird is found as far north as Canada.

Noun

The wind is coming from the north.

The birds migrate from the North.

Parts of the North were hit hard by the storm.

I grew up in the North.

The American Civil War was between the North and the South.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

But Trondheim is located so far north that the amount of daylight can vary between 20 hours in the summer and just four hours in the winter. —Dan Fellner, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2025

That’s partly because upper-level winds in the atmosphere weaken during summer when there’s less of a temperature difference between the equator and the Earth’s poles and the jet stream shifts farther north. —Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 10 July 2025

Adjective

Northeast Arkansas, north Arkansas and the River Valley could get 4-6 inches. —Amir Mahmoud, Arkansas Online, 23 May 2025

In an Indiana warehouse area on Lafayette's north end, little plastic chips are fed into a machine to be colored red and spun into the shape of a drinking straw. —Jillian Ellison, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025

Noun

Among those signing the letter were Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones of Santee and Assemblymember Laurie Davies, who represents part of north coastal San Diego County. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025

An air quality alert was in effect for northwest and north-central Minnesota on Friday, with officials warning that wildfire smoke could prompt unhealthy levels of air pollution. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German nord north and perhaps to Greek nerteros lower, infernal

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing north

• east by north
• magnetic north
• north by east
• north by west
• northeast by north
• north-northeast
• north-northwest
• north of
• north pole
• north-seeking pole
• northwest by north
• the north
• true north
• up north
• west by north

Rhymes for north

• fourth
• henceforth
• thenceforth

Kids Definition

north

1 of 3 adverb

ˈnȯ(ə)rth 

: to or toward the north

north

2 of 3 adjective

1

: placed or lying toward or at the north

the north entrance

2

: coming from the north

a north wind

north

3 of 3 noun

1

a

: the direction to the left of one facing east

b

: the compass point opposite to south

2

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

Biographical Definition

North 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

ˈnȯrth 

Douglass Cecil 1920–2015 American economist

North

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Frederick 1732–1792 Lord North English statesman; prime minister (1770–82)

North

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

Sir Thomas 1535–?1603 English translator