south

1 of 3

adverb

ˈsau̇th 

1

: to, toward, or in the south

a house facing south

2

: into a state of decline or ruin

… causes the sluggish economy to go south …

—George Will

see also south of

south

2 of 3

adjective

1

: situated toward or at the south

the south entrance

2

: coming from the south

a south wind

south

3 of 3

noun

1

a

: the direction of the south terrestrial pole : the direction to the right of one facing east

b

: the compass point directly opposite to north

2

South : regions or countries lying to the south of a specified or implied point of orientation

especially : the southeastern part of the U.S.

3

: the right side of a church looking toward the altar from the nave

4

often South

a

: the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the south or at the bottom of a diagram

b

: a person (such as a bridge player) occupying this position in the course of a specified activity

specifically : the declarer in bridge

5

often South : the developing nations of the world : third world sense 1 compare north sense 2b

Examples of south in a Sentence

Adverb

Turn south onto Elm Street.

It's a mile south of here.

The birds fly south in the winter.

The company's profits have gone south in recent months.

The TV show's ratings have been heading south.

Noun

The wind blew from the south.

The birds migrate from the South.

Parts of the South were hit hard by the storm.

I grew up in the South.

The American Civil War was between the North and the South.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

After its time in Hamilton, the aircraft will travel south to Wellington, stopping in Taupō, Napier, and Palmerston North. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025

Even so, elevated solar activity often results in more vivid auroras and the potential for visibility farther south than usual. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Parts of central, south central, and southeast Montana could see total snow accumulations of between 4 and 14 inches, possibly until Saturday morning. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025

Handicapped parking designations and vehicles on the south side of Graefield Street are exempt from citations. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

Noun

Furthermore, the magnetosphere is off-center inside Uranus, allowing for a much stronger magnetic field in the north than in the south. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025

Bennington, western Windham, Hamilton, northern Fulton, and northern Herkimer counties could get between 7 and 14 inches of snow by Thursday morning, with the heaviest snowfall expected on the south-facing slopes of the Adirondacks and areas above 1,000 feet. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English sūth; akin to Old High German sund- south and probably to Old English sunne sun

First Known Use

Adverb

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

Adjective

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing south

• down south
• east by south
• south by east
• south by west
• southeast by south
• south of
• south pole
• south-seeking pole
• south-southeast
• south-southwest
• southwest by south
• west by south

Rhymes for south

• drouth
• mouth
• routh

Kids Definition

south

1 of 3 adverb

ˈsau̇th 

: to or toward the south

south

2 of 3 adjective

1

: situated toward or at the south

the south entrance

2

: coming from the south

a south wind

south

3 of 3 noun

1

a

: the direction to the right of one facing east

b

: the compass point opposite to north

2

capitalized : regions or countries south of a point that is mentioned or understood

especially : the southeastern part of the U.S.

Biographical Definition

South

biographical name

ˈsau̇th 

Robert 1634–1716 English clergyman