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

Wasilla is about a 45-mile drive northeast from Anchorage. —Sacbee.com, 3 July 2025

New Smyrna Beach is about a 55-mile drive northeast from Orlando. —Mark Price july 3, Miami Herald, 3 July 2025

Adjective

In New York, New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland Counties were affected, as was northeast Maryland. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

Additionally, fire crews are being flown in by helicopter and dropped off in difficult to access areas, constructing containment lines on the north and northeast sides. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2025

Noun

Earlier this week, the announcement of a new Trader Joe’s coming to northeast Johnson County sparked outcry on social media from residents north of the river wanting more grocery options, especially in North Kansas City. —Alecia Taylor, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2025

The victims — two women and two men — were found in the city's northeast, where authorities also discovered 13 vehicles submerged in water. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 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