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

The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to consider plans for the approximately 33,000-square-foot visitor screening facility that would be built entirely on federal land in Sherman Park, which is located southeast of the White House. —Emma Nicholson, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026

Whortonsville is nearly 150 miles southeast of Raleigh and about 300 miles from Charlotte. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 14 Mar. 2026

Noun

Forecasters say the best chance for the strongest storms should stay east and southeast of the Kansas City area. —Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2026

The season has lengthened by 19 days on average in the southeast specifically, creating a 136 day window where there are no freezes and plants are able to grow and pollinate. —Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Three siblings who died in a southeast Austin apartment fire last week have been identified, and investigators said the blaze does not appear to have been set intentionally, though the cause remains unknown. —Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026

The wind advisory covered central, northern, northwest and southern New Jersey, as well as east central, northeast and southeast Pennsylvania, the NWS said. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 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