southeast

1 of 3

adverb

south·​east sau̇th-ˈēst 

nautical sau̇-ˈēst

: to, toward, or in the southeast

southeast

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: the general direction between south and east

b

: the point midway between the south and east compass points

2

Southeast : regions or countries lying to the southeast of a specified or implied point of orientation

southeast

3 of 3

adjective

1

: coming from the southeast

a southeast wind

2

: situated toward or at the southeast

the southeast corner

Examples of southeast in a Sentence

Adverb

It's a few miles southeast of here.

Noun

A mountain range is in the southeast of the country.

Rain is moving into the Southeast.

He grew up in the Southeast.

Adjective

My office is in the southeast corner of the building.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Touchdown will occur southeast of the Kazakh city of Dzhezkazgan, according to NASA. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 July 2026

The earthquake's epicenter was about 11 miles southeast of Silver Springs and occurred at a depth of 4 miles. — Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026

Noun

The home, on Buck Creek Cove in Gravois Mills, Missouri, is around a two-and-a-half-hour drive southeast from Kansas City. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026

Temperatures are expected to top 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) in parts of Spain on Friday, with a high of 44 C (111 F) in Almeria in the southeast. — ABC News, 24 July 2026

Adjective

Strong storms are also possible across parts of the Rockies and High Plains, with isolated damaging wind gusts possible in southeast Arizona as thunderstorms move into hotter, drier air. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 27 July 2026

The southeast Denver nightclub where a 25-year-old man was killed and eight other people were shot a week ago will not reopen after the violence, the club’s owner said Monday. — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

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

Phrases Containing southeast

• east-southeast
• southeast by east
• southeast by south
• south-southeast

Rhymes for southeast

• deceased
• decreased
• increased
• northeast
• policed
• released
• beast
• ceased
• creased
• east
• feast
• fleeced

Kids Definition

southeast

1 of 3 adverb

south·​east sau̇-ˈthēst 

nautical sau̇-ˈēst

: to or toward the southeast

southeast

2 of 3 noun

1

: the direction between south and east

2

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

southeast

3 of 3 adjective

1

: situated toward or at the southeast

the southeast corner

2

: coming from the southeast

a southeast wind