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• northeast
  northeast

  noun

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

  noun

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

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.

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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

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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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• northeasternmost
  adjective
• northeastern
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of northeast

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

Example Sentences

Researchers plan to continue investigating the Altar Stone's origins by identifying its precise source location in northeast Scotland and exploring the routes prehistoric people may have used to transport it.

From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026

The town hall in Bayside was standing room only ahead of Park’s appearance, with about 140 voters packed into the Hana Adult Day Care center in northeast Queens.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

The trust said red ruffed lemurs were only found in a small area of the northeast of Madagascar and were "critically endangered".

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

In District 1, which covers Highland Park in the northeast to University Park in the southwest, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez was leading a pack of four challengers in the race, according to early returns.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

He looked briefly through the glasses, aiming them a bit to the northeast.

From "In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse" by Joseph Marshall III