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

Online records show Walter lives in Deshler, a small village in Henry County about 45 miles southwest of Toledo, and was booked into the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio on June 2. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 4 June 2026

The epicenter was about 11 miles southwest of Toms Place, at a depth of 3 miles. —Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026

Noun

The earthquake's epicenter was approximately 1 mile southwest of Alamo and occurred at a depth of 9 miles. —Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2026

Grbic marveled at the emergence of new riparian habitat untrammeled by cattle — an increasing rarity across the southwest. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 7 June 2026

Adjective

Israel then hit a petrochemical plant in southwest Iran, prompting another wave of Iranian missile launches. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 8 June 2026

Stagg was from Roehampton and living in southwest London. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 7 June 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