north
nawth
North (noun) means the direction to the left when facing the sunrise; one of the four cardinal directions. Example: “The compass needle points to the north.”
noun
1
The direction to the left when facing the sunrise; one of the four cardinal directions.
"The compass needle points to the north."
"They drove north for three hours before stopping."
"Cold winds blow in from the north across the hills."
adjective
1
Situated in or facing the north; northern.
"They live on the north side of the city."
"The north entrance is closed, so use the main gate."
"A north wind brought snow to the village overnight."
adverb
1
Toward the north.
"The birds migrate north in the spring."
"The road runs north along the river for several miles."
"Turn north at the church and keep walking."
How to use north
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of the four main compass directions, opposite south.
Common pairings
head north
up north
north of the border
due north
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- norths
- Past tense
- northed
- Comparative
- further north, farther north
- Superlative
- furthest north, farthest north
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The compass needle points to the _____.
Etymology
From Old English "norþ," ultimately from a very old Indo-European root meaning roughly "below" or "underneath" — probably because early speakers pictured the sun as being "below" when in the northern sky, or because north lay to the left when facing the rising sun to pray.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for north
See all rhymes for north →Frequently asked questions
What does “north” mean?
The word “north” means the direction to the left when facing the sunrise; one of the four cardinal directions. In plain terms, one of the four main compass directions, opposite south.
How do you pronounce “north”?
“North” is pronounced nawth (/noɹθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “north” in a sentence?
Here is “north” used in a sentence: “The compass needle points to the north.”
What is another word for “north”?
Words with a similar meaning to “north” include boreal and septentrional.
What is the opposite of “north”?
The opposite of “north” — its antonyms — are south, austral and meridional.
What part of speech is “north”?
Depending on how it is used, “north” can be a noun, an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “north” come from?
The word “north” comes from Old English.
Is “north” a common word?
“North” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between north and south?
North and south are opposite cardinal directions. When you face the sunrise in the east, north is to your left and south is to your right. On most maps north is at the top and south at the bottom. The Earth's two poles mark the far north and the far south.
How do you find north without a compass?
The sun rises roughly in the east, so if you face the sunrise, north lies to your left. At night in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Star (Polaris) marks north almost exactly. You can also read the sun's position with a watch, or note the direction shadows point at midday.
Why is north at the top of maps?
There is no natural reason north must be on top — early maps varied widely. The convention grew from European mapmaking traditions and the use of compasses and the North Star for navigation. Once printing standardized maps with north upward, it became the near-universal habit we still follow today.
What is the difference between true north and magnetic north?
True north points to the geographic North Pole, the fixed top of the Earth's axis. Magnetic north is where a compass needle points, drawn to the planet's magnetic field, and it sits some distance away and shifts slowly over time. The gap between the two is called magnetic declination.
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