southwest

[ south-west; Nautical sou-west ]

/ ˌsaʊθˈwɛst; Nautical ˌsaʊˈwɛst /

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noun

the point or direction midway between south and west. Abbreviation: SW

a region in this direction.

the Southwest, the southwest region of the United States.

adjective

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

coming from the southwest, as a wind.

adverb

in the direction midway between south and west.

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Question 1 of 7

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of southwest

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

OTHER WORDS FROM southwest

southwestern, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use southwest in a sentence

Those often showed up south and southwest of the westernmost Roof of the World mountain ranges.
Surprising long-haul dust and tar are melting high glaciers|Sid Perkins|November 17, 2020|Science News For Students
The site is a residential street about half a mile southwest of the Suitland Metro station.
Victim of fatal shooting in Prince George’s County is identified|Martin Weil, Katie Mettler|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
Also, moist winds through the atmosphere will be streaming from the south-southwest, ahead of and along the front.
Heavy rain and isolated flooding forecast for Washington region Wednesday into Thursday|Jeffrey Halverson, Jason Samenow|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
Express forecastForecast in detailTropical Storm Zeta races through southwest and central Virginia today, drawing soaking rain over our region.
Updated forecast: Zeta’s rain rapidly exiting D.C. area after one to three inches, but more showers overnight.|David Streit, Jason Samenow|October 29, 2020|Washington Post

Yet in one southwest Florida case, deputies didn’t object to sharing their names with the man who they claimed violently assaulted one of them, while telling USA TODAY and ProPublica that such information was a critical secret.
How Cops Who Use Force and Even Kill Can Hide Their Names From the Public|by Kenny Jacoby, USA Today and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica|October 29, 2020|ProPublica
Virtually all the southwestern gangs of Mexican heritage (Surenos or Southsiders) are under their control.
The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs|Seth Ferranti|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Languishing in a prison cell in southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz, 21-year-old Razie Ebrahimi awaits her date with the gallows.
Iran to Hang Abused Child Bride|Nina Strochlic|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nestled here, in the southwestern corner of the compound, is a heap of crumbling concrete.
Pablo Escobar’s Private Prison Is Now Run by Monks for Senior Citizens|Jeff Campagna|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
President Xi Jinping joked that the air in Guizhou, a southwestern province, was so pure that it should be put up for sale.
The Chinese Can’t Catch Their Breath|Brendon Hong|May 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Gigafactory would be built somewhere in the southwestern U.S., and could employ up to 6,500 people.
Tesla Looks Like a Bubble, Will It Pop?|Daniel Gross|March 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Large manufacturing plants in the southwestern part of Virginia produce evaporated and condensed milk.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
At its southwestern end we find the most long-headed, prognathous, frizzly-haired, dark-skinned race of mankind.
Man And His Ancestor|Charles Morris
There had been rumors for years among the cattlemen of Southwestern Wyoming of a cavern in the canyon which was studded with gold.
Two Boys in Wyoming|Edward S. Ellis
It happened less than a century ago near a small river landing on what was then the southwestern frontier of these United States.
Those Times And These|Irvin S. Cobb
The oldest domesticated goats seem to be descended from the Bezoar goat (Capra ægagrus), from the mountains of southwestern Asia.
The New Stone Age in Northern Europe|John M. Tyler

British Dictionary definitions for southwest (1 of 2)

southwest

/ (ˌsaʊθˈwɛst, nautical ˌsaʊˈwɛst) /

noun

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

(often cap usually preceded by the) any area lying in or towards this direction

adjective Also: southwestern

(sometimes capital) of or denoting the southwestern part of a specified country, area, etcsouthwest Italy

situated in or towards the southwest

(esp of the wind) from the southwest

adverb

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

Symbol: SW

Derived forms of southwest

southwesternmost, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for southwest (2 of 2)

Southwest

/ (ˌsaʊθˈwɛst) /

noun

the Southwest the southwestern part of Britain, esp Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset

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