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

Pink Hill is about a 100-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026

Kitchen Nightmares is also currently filming an episode at Big Creek Cafe in Pleasant Hill, about 30 miles southeast of Kansas City. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

Remnants of Pacific Ocean Hurricane Polo continue moving in from the southwest and moisture from the Gulf Coast is coming in from the southeast, forecasters say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026

In spring 1944, Germany kept 826,000 troops in the southeast—five times more than would land on D-Day. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Kevin Kopp hoists flag Former KU defensive lineman Kevin Kopp, a starter on the Jayhawks’ 1995 Aloha Bowl team, hoisted the Kansas flag in the southeast corner of the stadium in Saturday’s pregame flag-raising ceremony. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026

It's celebrated as an opportunity for southeast Iowa, an area along the Mississippi River that once thrived as a hub for industry but has since suffered from shuttered facilities and dwindled populations. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 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