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

At no great distance from the base of the derrick, there were million-dollar views northeast toward Acadia and south toward the open ocean. —Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025

Beaumont is a 85-mile drive northeast from Houston. —Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025

Adjective

But a new theory suggests the book may have emerged from a Pictish monastery in Portmahomack, on Scotland’s northeast coast. —Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2025

Jillian was shot by police during an altercation outside the couple's LA home on April 8 when a hit-and-run incident led to a manhunt for three suspects in northeast Los Angeles County. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025

Noun

Areas in the far northeast of the state are set to be affected. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025

The hurricane is moving to the north-northeast at 12 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. —Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 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