southwesterly

American

[south-wes-ter-lee, sou-wes-ter-lee] / ˌsaʊθˈwɛs tər li, ˌsaʊˈwɛs tər li /

adjective

toward or from the southwest.

southwesterly British

/ ˌsaʊθˈwɛstəlɪ, ˌsaʊˈwɛstəlɪ /

adjective

in, towards, or (esp of a wind) from the southwest

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

a wind or storm from the southwest

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of southwesterly

1700–10; southwest + -erly ( see easterly)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It has issued a yellow "be aware" warning due to a forecast for very strong southwesterly winds from 16:00 on Thursday until 11:00 on Friday.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2025

The service said that the storm was bringing “very strong” and “gusty southwesterly winds countrywide with strong gales” as well as high waves along coasts.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2024

Jones reported a southwesterly front had come through with three hours of heavy rain and high winds.

From Washington Times • Dec. 26, 2023

After nearly a millennium of dormancy, this southwesterly strip of land entered a new volcanic era in March 2021.

From National Geographic • Dec. 19, 2023

Two more signs along the southwesterly course maintained the warning.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023