southwest
sawth-WEHST
Southwest (noun) means the direction exactly between south and west. Example: “The storm is moving in from the southwest tonight.”
noun
1
The direction exactly between south and west.
"The storm is moving in from the southwest tonight."
"Our house faces the southwest, so it gets plenty of evening sun."
"The plane banked toward the southwest."
adjective
1
Situated toward or coming from the southwest.
"We stayed in a small hotel on the southwest coast."
"The southwest corner of the field floods every winter."
"A southwest breeze cooled the afternoon heat."
How to use southwest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe direction halfway between south and west.
Common pairings
the American Southwest
southwest corner
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Word forms
- Plural
- southwests
- Comparative
- more southwest, further southwest, farther southwest
- Superlative
- most southwest, furthest southwest, farthest southwest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The storm is moving in from the _____ tonight.
Etymology
From Old English suthwest, combining south and west.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “southwest” mean?
The word “southwest” means the direction exactly between south and west. In plain terms, the direction halfway between south and west.
How do you pronounce “southwest”?
“Southwest” is pronounced sawth-WEHST (/saʊθˈwɛst/ in IPA).
How do you use “southwest” in a sentence?
Here is “southwest” used in a sentence: “The plane banked toward the southwest.”
What part of speech is “southwest”?
Depending on how it is used, “southwest” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “southwest” come from?
The word “southwest” comes from Old English. From Old English suthwest, combining south and west.
Is “southwest” a common word?
“Southwest” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “southwest” have?
“Southwest” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the direction exactly between south and west.
What is the difference between southwest and southwestern?
Southwest names the direction or point on the compass between south and west, and can also act as an adjective, as in "the southwest corner." Southwestern is only an adjective and usually describes a region or its character, as in "southwestern cuisine."
What is the difference between southwest and southeast?
Southwest is the direction exactly between south and west, while southeast is the direction between south and east. On a compass they sit on opposite sides of due south.
How do you abbreviate southwest?
Southwest is commonly abbreviated as SW on compasses, maps, and in addresses. Intermediate compass directions put the north–south term first, so it is written SW rather than WS.
