1
a
: the general direction between south and west
b
: the point midway between the south and west compass points
2
capitalized
: regions or countries lying to the southwest of a specified or implied point of orientation
especially
: the southwestern part of the U.S.
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
Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2025
Location Terranea Resort is located approximately 17 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and 30 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
The lucky $1 million ticket was sold at Center Independent Oil in Scott Township, which is about a 6-mile drive southwest of Pittsburgh.
—Don Sweeney, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
The nullification of the three adopted RMPs follows a similar fate of the controversial Rock Springs RMP in southwest Wyoming.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for southwest
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Adverb
The quasi-ghost town sits about 73 miles southwest of Boise, and still has a few operating businesses in the summer tourist season.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2025
Location Terranea Resort is located approximately 17 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and 30 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
Pekin is about a 170-mile drive southwest from Chicago.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
The lucky $1 million ticket was sold at Center Independent Oil in Scott Township, which is about a 6-mile drive southwest of Pittsburgh.
—Don Sweeney, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
What will the weather be like in southwest Michigan?
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
The nullification of the three adopted RMPs follows a similar fate of the controversial Rock Springs RMP in southwest Wyoming.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for southwest
Cite this Entry
“Southwest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwest. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
southwest
1 of 3 adverb
south·west
sau̇th-ˈwest 
nautical sau̇-ˈwest
: to or toward the southwest
southwest
2 of 3 noun1
: the direction between south and west
2
capitalized
: regions or countries southwest of a point that is mentioned or understood
southwest
3 of 3 adjective1
: coming from the southwest
a southwest wind
2
: situated toward or at the southwest
the southwest corner
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