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

Korrey’s path began on a farm in Iliff, just northeast of Denver, where he was born, raised and still lives today. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026

Barco is along the Coinjock Bay, about a 180-mile drive northeast from downtown Raleigh. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026

Adjective

While most of the state stays dry, there is a slight chance (less than 20%) of rain or showers across northeast Colorado early Wednesday morning with a few spotty snow showers in the mountains. —Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026

Davis was found in a vacant house in the 700 block of Lafayette Avenue in northeast Kansas City, Kansas. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2026

Noun

Looking ahead to 2026 Forecasters expect an area of low atmospheric pressure to moves along the Red River to our northeast, redirecting winds from the west to the northwest. —Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 1 Jan. 2026

The $94 million project, driven by private funding, will replace hundreds of empty parcels owned by the Wyandotte County Land Bank with houses and duplexes and could bring over 1,000 new residents to KCK’s northeast. —Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 30 Dec. 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