northeast

American  

[nawrth-eest, nawr-eest] / ˌnɔrθˈist, ˌnɔrˈist /

noun

1. a point on the compass midway between north and east. NE

2. a region in this direction.

3. the Northeast, the northeastern part of the United States.

---

adverb

1. toward or in the northeast.

   sailing northeast.

adjective

1. coming from the northeast.

   a northeast wind.

2. directed toward the northeast.

   a northeast course.

northeast ¹ British  

/ ˌnɔːθˈiːst, ˌnɔːrˈiːst /

noun

1. the point of the compass or direction midway between north and east, 45° clockwise from north

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

---

adjective

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

   northeast Lincolnshire

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

3. (esp of the wind) from the northeast

adverb

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

Northeast ² British  

/ ˌnɔːθˈiːst /

noun

1. the northeastern part of England, esp Northumberland, Durham, and the Tyneside area

---

Other Word Forms

• northeastern adjective
• northeasternmost adjective

Etymology

Origin of northeast

before 950; Middle English, Old English; see north, east

Example Sentences

About 15 Iranian sailors will remain in Sri Lanka to operate the Irins Bushehr, which is anchored off Trincomalee in the northeast of the island.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Michelle Dick was arrested about 7 p.m. at a hotel in the 3000 block of Goshen Road, about 120 miles northeast of Indianapolis, according to Fort Wayne police.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

The most notable gatherings took place in the capital Tehran, where strikes have ceased since a fragile ceasefire came into effect on Tuesday night, as well as the northwest city of Urmia and northeast Gorgan.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Late one night in October 2023, part of the shelf of rocks and ice that dammed the lake in northeast India collapsed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Papa told the preacher, “The stumps all point northeast to southwest. You can hunt coons in those woods at night and never need a compass.”

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns