WordGarden.ionorthwest
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /nɔːθwˈɛst/
US
- /ˌnɔrθˈwɛst/
Meanings
Noun
the direction between north and west
the northwestern part of a place or region
Adjective
located in or facing the northwest
Adverb
toward or in the northwest
Beyond the definition
"Northwest" can describe a direction, part of an area, or a region. On a compass, it sits halfway between north and west. On a standard map, it points toward the upper-left corner. People also use it to talk about the northwest part of a country, city, or state. In some cases, especially when capitalized as the Northwest, it can mean the Pacific Northwest in North America. A sailor might travel northwest across the water, while a traveler might visit the Northwest for forests, coastlines, and mountains.
"Northwest" is a flexible word used for direction and location. As a direction, it points halfway between north and west on a compass. If you are looking at a map, it leads toward the upper-left corner. Hikers, sailors, pilots, and drivers may all use it when giving directions or describing movement. You might hear phrases like "winds from the northwest" or "drive northwest for ten miles."
The word is also often used to describe the northwest part of a larger place. For example, someone might speak about the northwest corner of a town, the northwest side of a lake, or the northwest region of a country. In this sense, it simply means the area that lies more to the north and more to the west than the rest.
When capitalized as "Northwest," it can also refer to a named region, especially the Pacific Northwest of North America. This usually means Washington and Oregon, and sometimes nearby parts of Idaho, British Columbia, or Alaska, depending on the context. People often connect this region with evergreen forests, rainy weather, mountains, and the coast.
You may also see the word in set phrases such as "the Northwest Passage," the sea route through the Arctic. Whether it is helping someone find the right direction or name a part of a place, "northwest" carries the clear idea of something lying between north and west.
Examples
- 1
Relative location
The cabin is about ten miles northwest of town.
- 2
Travel direction
We drove northwest until the road reached the coast.
- 3
Weather movement
Dark clouds were moving in from the northwest.
- 4
Home layout
The kitchen is in the northwest corner of the house.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Wind direction
A strong northwest wind made the lake rough.
- Phrasea northwest wind
a wind that comes from the northwest
- 6
Regional name
My sister lives in the Northwest, where the winters are often cold and wet.
- Phrasethe Northwest
a northwestern region of a country, especially the U.S.
See also
Similar
- NW
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- to the northwest
- northwest of
- from the northwest
- in the northwest
Word family
- northwestern
- northwesterly
Explore
- intercardinal direction
- north-northwest
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- northwestnounadjectiveadverb