southwest

1 of 3

adverb

south·​west sau̇th-ˈwest How to pronounce southwest (audio)
 nautical  sau̇-ˈwest
: to, toward, or in the southwest

southwest

2 of 3

noun

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.

southwest

3 of 3

adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
In August, archaeologists found two churches and a mural of Jesus at Kharga Oasis, an ancient settlement roughly 350 miles southwest of Cairo. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025 The contest, in which bears vie for votes to win the portly crown, is headquartered on the edge of the park in King Salmon, about 290 miles southwest of Anchorage. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
The second was given a 20% chance of development over the next week across a broad swath of the Atlantic from southwest of the Cape Verde Islands to just east of the Windward Islands on the east end of the Caribbean. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025 The main entrance to the venue will be to the southwest of the memorial, where Kessler Road and Memorial Drive meet. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The city analyzed truck traffic generators in southwest Detroit, identified travel patterns and paid particular attention to the Livernois Junction Intermodal terminal, which accounts for more than 1,200 truck trips per day. Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025 Now the Jeserich Building, also known as the Tower building — a distinctive piece of 1888 Kansas City architecture, with its southwest Queen Ann turret rooms and bow windows — will be coming down, its owners confirmed Tuesday. Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for southwest

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of southwest was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southwest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwest. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

southwest

1 of 3 adverb
south·​west sau̇th-ˈwest How to pronounce southwest (audio)
 nautical  sau̇-ˈwest
: to or toward the southwest

southwest

2 of 3 noun
1
: the direction between south and west
2
capitalized : regions or countries southwest of a point that is mentioned or understood

southwest

3 of 3 adjective
1
: coming from the southwest
a southwest wind
2
: situated toward or at the southwest
the southwest corner

More from Merriam-Webster on southwest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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