southeast
5 synonyms and 1 antonym for southeast, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The direction exactly between south and east.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The direction exactly between south and east.
“The village lies a few miles to the southeast of the lake.”
Opposites
2. adjective
Situated toward or coming from the southeast.
“The southeast corner of the garden gets sun until the evening.”
southeasterly
southeastern
How to use southeast
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
southeast corner
southeast Asia
Etymology
From Old English sutheast, a straightforward combination of south and east.
Full origin of southeast →Frequently asked questions
What does “southeast” mean?
The word “southeast” means the direction exactly between south and east. In plain terms, the direction halfway between south and east.
How do you pronounce “southeast”?
“Southeast” is pronounced saw-THIHYST (/sawˈθɪjst/ in IPA).
How do you use “southeast” in a sentence?
Here is “southeast” used in a sentence: “The storm is moving to the southeast.”
What part of speech is “southeast”?
Depending on how it is used, “southeast” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “southeast” come from?
The word “southeast” comes from Old English. From Old English sutheast, a straightforward combination of south and east.
Is “southeast” a common word?
“Southeast” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “southeast” have?
“Southeast” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the direction exactly between south and east.
What is the difference between southeast and south-southeast?
Southeast is the direction exactly halfway between south and east, at 135 degrees on a compass. South-southeast lies between south and southeast, at about 157.5 degrees, so it is closer to due south.
Is 'southeast' written as one word or hyphenated?
In American English it is usually written as one word, 'southeast', while British English often hyphenates it as 'south-east'. Both forms refer to the same direction.
How do you abbreviate southeast?
Southeast is commonly abbreviated as 'SE' on compasses, maps, and in addresses. The lowercase form 'se' is not standard for this purpose.
When is 'southeast' capitalised?
As a plain direction, 'southeast' is written in lower case, as in 'drive southeast'. It is capitalised when it forms part of a proper name for a region, such as 'the Southeast' referring to a specific recognised area.
