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• southeast
  southeast

  noun

  the point or direction midway between south and east. SE
• Southeast
  Southeast

  noun

  the southeastern part of Britain, esp the London area

southeast

American  

[south-eest, sou-eest] / ˌsaʊθˈist, ˌsaʊˈist /

noun

1. the point or direction midway between south and east. SE

2. a region in this direction.

3. (initial capital letter) the southeast region of the United States.

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adjective

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

2. coming from the southeast, as a wind.

adverb

1. in the direction midway between south and east.

southeast ¹ British  

/ ˌsaʊθˈiːst, ˌsaʊˈiːst /

noun

1. the point of the compass or the direction midway between south and east, 135° clockwise from north

2. any area lying in or towards this direction

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adjective

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

2. situated in, proceeding towards, or facing the southeast

3. (esp of the wind) from the southeast

adverb

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

Southeast ² British  

/ ˌsaʊθˈiːst /

noun

1. the southeastern part of Britain, esp the London area

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Other Word Forms

• southeastern
  adjective
• southeasternmost
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of southeast

before 900; Middle English southest, Old English sūthēast. See south, east

Example Sentences

But what was happening in the industrial southeast remained a bit of a mystery.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

The findings suggest communities were increasingly connected to regions south and southeast of the Danube while still maintaining strong local traditions.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

Former school board member Yolie Flores, who represented areas north, northeast and southeast of downtown, is concerned about Carvalho’s prolonged absence and the high-level departures.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Disruptions to Gulf airports and airspace, along with higher airfares due to the jump in fuel prices, have also led to Europeans travelling to southeast Asian destinations.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

The sky was pale in the southeast, and the air was suffused with a gray mist, through which the gyptians moved like bulky ghosts, loading sledges and harnessing dogs to the traces.

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman