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

Most move northeast, so being to the east offers me an ideal vista. —Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 21 July 2024

Bensalem is about a 20-mile drive northeast from Philadelphia. —Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 11 July 2024

Adjective

Bird flu Five cases of bird flu have been identified among workers culling poultry at a farm in northeast Colorado, according to state health officials. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 16 July 2024

This weekend, Colorado and federal health officials reported five cases of bird flu in poultry workers at a single farm in northeast Colorado. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2024

Noun

At its core, Northlands aims to uplift those smaller jam outfits grinding it out around New England and the greater northeast — Dopapod, Hayley Jane, Jatoba, and Annie in the Water. —Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2024

When the Tigers moved to Comerica Park, about a mile and a half northeast in the core downtown, fears loomed across the neighborhood regarding Corktown's future. —Detroit Free Press, 2 June 2024

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

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