What does "northeast" mean?
The intercardinal compass point halfway between north and east; specifically at a bearing of 45°.
Northeast
adj, adv, name, noun
adj, adv, name, noun ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The intercardinal compass point halfway between north and east; specifically at a bearing of 45°.
- Grammar: northeast is listed as adj, adv, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: northeastward, antarctic, arctic, austral.
- Useful contrasts: southwest, southwest region, southwesterly.
- Usage evidence: The land to the northeast was low-lying.
How to use "northeast"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "northeast" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "northeast" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "northeast" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "northeast" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "northeast" is acting as adj, adv, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "northeastward" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "northeast", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The intercardinal compass point halfway between north and east; specifically at a bearing of 45°.
"The task of discussing priority concerns for this region is complicated by the fact that there are essentially two rural northeasts."
- 2 a location in the northeastern part of a country, region, or city wordnet
- 3 the compass point midway between north and east; at 45 degrees wordnet
- 4 the direction corresponding to the northeastward compass point wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of, in or pertaining to the northeast; northeastern. not-comparable, usually
- 2 Situated toward or in the direction of the northeast; northeastward; northeasterly. not-comparable, usually
"a northeast course"
- 3 Coming from the northeast; northeasterly. not-comparable, usually
"a northeast wind"
Adjective
- 1 situated in or oriented toward the northeast wordnet
- 2 coming from the northeast wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Towards the direction of the northeast; northeastwards. not-comparable, usually
"We are travelling northeast at the moment."
Adverb
- 1 to, toward, or in the northeast wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 The northeastern region of the contiguous United States including New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, sometimes inclusive of Maryland, Delaware, Washington, DC, Virginia and West Virginia. US
"Many of the dynamics today in West Virginia would be familiar in old industrial towns in the Northeast, or in rural communities across the Midwest."
- 2 A place in the United States:; A township in Adams County, Illinois.
- 3 Alternative form of North East (“a region of England”). UK, alt-of, alternative
- 4 A place in the United States:; A township in Orange County, Indiana.
- 5 The northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning in China. China
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A place in the United States:; A defined community in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- 7 The northeastern region of India including Assam and its surrounding states. India
- 8 A place in the United States:; A section in Billings, Montana.
- 9 A place in the United States:; A quadrant in Washington, D.C..
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The land to the northeast was low-lying."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "northeast"?
Common synonyms include: northeastward, antarctic, arctic, austral, boreal, cardinal points.
How do you use "northeast" in a sentence?
The land to the northeast was low-lying.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English northest, from Old English norþēast, equivalent to north + east.
Etymology 2
From northeast.