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 new system is currently located about 330 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, with winds of 45 mph. — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Forecasters say that a complex of thunderstorms may develop across southeast Nebraska this afternoon, then dive southeast into far northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri in the evening, bringing a wide swath of damaging winds. — Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

More specifically, El Niño is helping to boost ocean temperatures to the east and southeast of Hawaii, which is where these storms tend to form and then approach the island state. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

Farrington took all of this into account at an event in Hickstead, southeast England, on a sweltering day in July. — Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Adjective

In the meantime, much of West Virginia, southeast Ohio and northeast Kentucky were under a flood watch through Monday evening, with high water lingering from previous storms increasing the possibility of flash flooding. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

The Storm Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, has placed Kansas City, along with southeast South Dakota, parts of Kansas, northern Kansas and Missouri, and Iowa under a slight risk (level 2 of 5) of severe weather. — Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 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