southwest

1 of 3

adverb

south·​west sau̇th-ˈwest 

nautical sau̇-ˈwest

: to, toward, or in the southwest

southwest

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: the general direction between south and west

b

: the point midway between the south and west compass points

2

Southwest : regions or countries lying to the southwest of a specified or implied point of orientation

especially : the southwestern part of the U.S.

southwest

3 of 3

adjective

1

: coming from the southwest

a southwest wind

2

: situated toward or at the southwest

the southwest corner

Examples of southwest in a Sentence

Adverb

It's about 80 miles southwest of here.

Noun

A mountain range is in the southwest of the country.

These plants grow in the Southwest.

Adjective

the southwest corner of the building

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The boats collided about 14 miles southwest of mile marker 41, in a remote area between Interstate 75 and Tamiami Trail, near the Miccosukee Indian Reservation. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

The ship will be deployed in the Gulf of Mexico about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach in the second week of November, a spokesperson for Okaloosa County said on Friday. — Laura Fay, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Noun

Nestled just to the southwest of downtown Dallas, Oak Cliff Nature Preserve is a 121-acre sanctuary with thick, overgrown vegetation and dirt paths to remind you that there is still plenty of natural beauty in this overgrown concrete jungle. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Trump has long vowed to build a border wall along the roughly 2,000-mile length of the southwest border. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The homes will be located on 28 acres at the northeast and southwest corners of Kilgore Road and International Drive, according to a city staff report. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

All four candidates for the seats are running to become first-time trustees of the district that serves just over 4,000 students in southwest Bexar County and northwest Atascosa County. — Sophia Veneziano, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing southwest

• south-southwest
• southwest by south
• southwest by west
• west-southwest

Rhymes for southwest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed

Kids Definition

southwest

1 of 3 adverb

south·​west sau̇th-ˈwest 

nautical sau̇-ˈwest

: to or toward the southwest

southwest

2 of 3 noun

1

: the direction between south and west

2

capitalized : regions or countries southwest of a point that is mentioned or understood

southwest

3 of 3 adjective

1

: coming from the southwest

a southwest wind

2

: situated toward or at the southwest

the southwest corner