southwest

[south-west, sou-west]

noun

1. the point or direction midway between south and west. SW

2. a region in this direction.

3. the Southwest, the southwest region of the United States.

adjective

1. lying toward, situated in, or directed toward the southwest.

2. coming from the southwest, as a wind.

adverb

1. in the direction midway between south and west.

southwest

¹

/ ˌsaʊˈwɛst, ˌsaʊθˈwɛst /

noun

1. the point of the compass or the direction midway between west and south, 225° clockwise from north

2. any area lying in or towards this direction

adjective

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

   southwest Italy

2. situated in or towards the southwest

3. (esp of the wind) from the southwest

adverb

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

Southwest

²

/ ˌsaʊθˈwɛst /

noun

1. the southwestern part of Britain, esp Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset

Other Word Forms

• southwestern adjective
• southwesternmost adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of southwest¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English sūthwest. See south, west

Example Sentences

The floodwaters in the small city southwest of Sacramento covered her family’s yard, then poured into the house.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Washington, Utah, located just southwest of Zion National Park, is surrounded by cinematic mesas and has long been a hub for exploring the natural wonders of the American west.

Read more on BBC

Bianca O’Shea, now the group’s special events coordinator, told Salon that residents in her hometown of Ottawa, a small city southwest of Chicago, supported the group’s efforts.

Read more on Salon

A surge of monsoonal moisture, not uncommon during summer months, moved into the state from the southwest desert region early Tuesday, bringing lightning across much of California.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Much of southwest California is under an extreme heat watch, warning of “dangerously hot conditions.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times