northwest

[nawrth-west, nawr-west]

noun

1. a point on the compass midway between north and west. NW

2. a region in this direction.

3. the Northwest,

   1. the northwestern part of the United States, especially Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

   2. the northwestern part of the United States when its western boundary was the Mississippi River.

   3. the northwestern part of Canada.

adjective

1. coming from the northwest.

   a northwest wind.

2. directed toward the northwest.

   sailing a northwest course.

adverb

1. from the northwest.

2. toward the northwest.

   sailing northwest.

northwest

¹

/ ˌnɔːθˈwɛst, ˌnɔːˈwɛst /

noun

1. the point of the compass or direction midway between north and west, 315° clockwise from north

2. (often capital) any area lying in or towards this direction

adjective

1. (sometimes capital) of or denoting the northwestern part of a specified country, area, etc

   northwest Greenland

adjective

1. in, to, towards, or (esp of the wind) from the northwest

Northwest

²

/ ˌnɔːθˈwɛst /

noun

1. the northwestern part of England, esp Lancashire and the Lake District

2. the northwestern part of the US, consisting of the states of Washington, Oregon, and sometimes Idaho

3. (in Canada) the region north and west of the Great Lakes

Other Word Forms

• northwestern adjective
• northwesternmost adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of northwest¹

before 900; Middle English, Old English; north, west

Example Sentences

Simultaneously, broad nativist fear of immigrants, and their labor, led to 1921 and 1924 acts creating restrictive quota systems basically eliminating immigration from anywhere but northwest Europe and the New World.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Brad Smith, a crop farmer in northwest Illinois, said he welcomed the prospect of relief, after China stopped buying US soybeans in May.

Read more on BBC

The epicenter was about 29 miles northeast of downtown San Bernardino, 27 miles southeast of Hesperia and 40 miles northwest of Palm Springs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Shawna Dawson Beer, who lost her home in northwest Altadena, said the report repeatedly shielded county officials, particularly fire and sheriff’s officials, from any real accountability.

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“That will move northwest over the next few days,” Lewis said of the newly-named cyclone.

Read more on Los Angeles Times