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
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
The incident occurred about 450 miles southwest of Adak, Alaska.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 26 June 2025
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Lee County is located in southwest Florida along the Gulf Coast.
—Charlie Whitehead, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
Tropical Storm Flossie, located off the southwest Mexican coast, is expected to strengthen into a hurricane early this week, according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for southwest
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Adverb
In the area southwest of the Eaton fire zone, between 70% and 80% exceeded the lead levels.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
The incident occurred about 450 miles southwest of Adak, Alaska.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 26 June 2025
Noun
Waldo is about a 55-mile drive southwest from Jacksonville.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Lee County is located in southwest Florida along the Gulf Coast.
—Charlie Whitehead, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Adjective
Berthel, who represents several rural towns in the southwest corner of the state, has tried for years unsuccessfully to pass legislation authorizing a bear hunt.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
Tropical Storm Flossie, located off the southwest Mexican coast, is expected to strengthen into a hurricane early this week, according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 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 Jul. 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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