northeast

1 of 3

adverb

north·​east nȯrth-ˈēst 

nautical

nȯr-ˈēst 

: to, toward, or in the northeast

northeast

2 of 3

adjective

1

: coming from the northeast

a northeast wind

2

: situated toward or at the northeast

the northeast corner

northeast

3 of 3

noun

1

a

: the general direction between north and east

b

: the point midway between the north and east compass points

2

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

Examples of northeast in a Sentence

Adverb

It's a few miles northeast of here.

We left the city and headed northeast.

Adjective

My office is in the northeast corner of the building.

Noun

A mountain range is in the northeast of the country.

Parts of the Northeast were hit hard by the storm.

I grew up in the Northeast.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The earthquake's epicenter was situated approximately 6 miles northeast of San Martin and occurred at a depth of 4 miles. —Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025

Eastpointe is about a 10-mile drive northeast from Detroit. —Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2025

Adjective

These districts include Republican strongholds like the southeast shore of Staten Island, southern Brooklyn, and northeast Queens, according to a recent analysis by City Limits, but also blue neighborhoods like Bay Ridge and the Upper West Side. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 24 Oct. 2025

The body of a man was discovered hanging from a rope while on fire near a homeless encampment in northeast Houston, police said. —Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

Noun

The hurricane had begun moving toward the north-northeast and was moving at about 8 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 165 mph, down from the 185-mph recorded at landfall. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

With maximum sustained winds of 175 mph, the hurricane is moving to the north-northeast at 7 mph. —Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

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

Noun

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

Phrases Containing northeast

• east-northeast
• northeast by east
• northeast by north
• north-northeast
• the northeast

Rhymes for northeast

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

Kids Definition

northeast

1 of 3 adverb

north·​east nȯr-ˈthēst 

nautical

nȯ-ˈrēst 

: to or toward the northeast

northeast

2 of 3 noun

1

: the direction between north and east

2

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

northeast

3 of 3 adjective

1

: placed or lying toward or at the northeast

the northeast corner

2

: coming from the northeast

a northeast wind