1
a
: the general direction between south and west
b
: the point midway between the south and west compass points
2
Southwest
: 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
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
How To Get There Bandera is located in the Texas Hill Country, 40 miles northwest of San Antonio and 90 miles southwest of Austin.
—Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026
Saturday’s daily heat record of 96 degrees, set just last year, should remain safe, but Sunday’s daily record of 92 degrees, set on March 15, 2016, could be challenged as southwest winds push afternoon temperatures into the lower to mid-90s ahead of our next cold front.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
Erika Edwards, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
The southwest Florida island is welcoming a surge of visitors as more than 70 percent of its businesses and hotels have reopened.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for southwest
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Adverb
The earthquake's epicenter was situated approximately 12 miles southwest of Gustine and occurred at a depth of 6 miles.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
How To Get There Bandera is located in the Texas Hill Country, 40 miles northwest of San Antonio and 90 miles southwest of Austin.
—Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
The tests were carried out in the Schoharie Valley, southwest of Schenectady.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026
Saturday’s daily heat record of 96 degrees, set just last year, should remain safe, but Sunday’s daily record of 92 degrees, set on March 15, 2016, could be challenged as southwest winds push afternoon temperatures into the lower to mid-90s ahead of our next cold front.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
While the virus is continuing to spread uncontrolled in the southwest part of Utah, other parts of the state — including areas closer to Salt Lake City — are now experiencing increases in cases.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
The southwest Florida island is welcoming a surge of visitors as more than 70 percent of its businesses and hotels have reopened.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for southwest
Cite this Entry
“Southwest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwest. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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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