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

Northeast : 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 arid region located over 200 miles northeast of Cape Town is particularly well known for its vast troves of ancient fossils. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026

The property is 14 miles southwest of downtown and just northeast of Tarleton State University’s Fort Worth campus. —Samuel O’Neal 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026

Adjective

Several tornadoes struck northeast Kansas Monday, as the region experienced unexpected severe weather. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026

The Last Ship is set in a shipbuilding community in northeast England facing the closure of their shipyard — a place that represents the core of the town’s identity and livelihood. —Ryan Brennan april 14, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026

Noun

The great room, a combination of the living, dining, and kitchen areas, measures a whopping 2,600 square feet, with large northeast-facing windows looking directly over Central Park and the surrounding skyline. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2026

The insurgency in the country’s northeast has lasted more than a decade. —ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026

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