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

Buxton is about a 240-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh. —Mark Price january 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2026

Freezing temperatures are expected to arrive in the Hill Country by mid-morning Saturday, then spread southeast across the region by late afternoon and continue through Sunday morning. —Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026

Noun

This first three-dimensional cross-sectional image goes 11 miles) below the crater and shows what appear to be various pools of magma at different depths, with rock or other material between them and more numerous toward the southeast of the crater. —Arkansas Online, 11 Jan. 2026

Protests also appeared to happen in Kerman, 800 kilometers (500 miles) southeast of Tehran. —Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026

Adjective

The homicide reportedly occurred in southeast Houston in June 2022, with police adding that then-15-year-old Guillory was one of the shooters. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Amenities outside include a hot tub, deck, and firepit; Los Angeles is two to three hours southeast. —The Week Us, TheWeek, 26 Jan. 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