northwest
nawth-WEHST
Northwest (noun) means the direction exactly between north and west. Example: “The storm is moving slowly towards the northwest of the country.”
noun
1
The direction exactly between north and west.
"The storm is moving slowly towards the northwest of the country."
"The weather front is approaching from the northwest."
"They own a cabin in the Pacific Northwest."
adjective
1
Situated toward or coming from the northwest.
"We drove along the northwest coast, stopping at every small harbour."
"The house has a northwest facing garden, so it gets sun in the evening."
"A cold northwest wind blew in overnight."
How to use northwest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe compass direction halfway between north and west.
Common pairings
Pacific Northwest
northwest wind
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Word forms
- Plural
- northwests
- Comparative
- more northwest, further northwest, farther northwest
- Superlative
- most northwest, furthest northwest, farthest northwest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The storm is moving slowly towards the _____ of the country.
Etymology
From Old English "norþwest," combining "north" and "west."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “northwest” mean?
The word “northwest” means the direction exactly between north and west. In plain terms, the compass direction halfway between north and west.
How do you pronounce “northwest”?
“Northwest” is pronounced nawth-WEHST (/nɔɹθˈwɛst/ in IPA).
How do you use “northwest” in a sentence?
Here is “northwest” used in a sentence: “The weather front is approaching from the northwest.”
What part of speech is “northwest”?
Depending on how it is used, “northwest” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “northwest” come from?
The word “northwest” comes from Old English. From Old English "norþwest," combining "north" and "west.".
Is “northwest” a common word?
“Northwest” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “northwest” have?
“Northwest” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the direction exactly between north and west.
What is the difference between northwest and northwestern?
Northwest can name the direction exactly between north and west or describe something situated toward or coming from it. Northwestern is used only as an adjective, typically for a broader region or area, as in the northwestern United States.
Should northwest be written with a hyphen as north-west?
Both spellings refer to the same direction between north and west. The closed form northwest is standard in American English, while the hyphenated north-west is more common in British English.
When is northwest capitalised?
As a plain compass direction, northwest is written in lower case, as in drive northwest for two miles. It is capitalised when it forms part of a specific place name or recognised region, such as the Northwest Passage.
What is the abbreviation for northwest?
Northwest is commonly abbreviated as NW on compasses, maps, and in addresses. The abbreviation stands for the direction exactly between north and west.
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