WordGarden.iosoutheast
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈaʊθiːst/
US
- /ˌsaʊˈθist/
Meanings
Noun
the direction between south and east
the southeastern part of a place or region
Adjective
located in or facing the southeast
Adverb
toward or in the southeast
Beyond the definition
"Southeast" describes the direction halfway between south and east. If you picture a compass, it points to the space between down and right. People use it when talking about travel, weather, and location: you might drive southeast for two hours, hear that a wind is coming from the southeast, or look at the southeast corner of a map. It can also name a region, such as the southeastern part of a country or a larger area like Southeast Asia. The word helps place things clearly in both movement and space.
"Southeast" is a directional term indicating the position midway between south and east. While north, south, east, and west are the four cardinal directions, southeast is known as an intercardinal (or ordinal) direction. It is essential for navigation and describing movement, such as "the storm is tracking southeast" or "the hikers headed in a southeasterly direction to find the river."
Beyond simple navigation, "Southeast" carries significant geographical and cultural weight. In a domestic context, it frequently refers to the Southeastern United States—a region encompassing states like Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. This area is defined by its unique history, diverse heritage, and subtropical landscape. On a global scale, the term identifies major regions like Southeast Asia, home to vibrant economies and ancient traditions.
The term can also be used figuratively to orient someone within a non-physical space. For instance, if you are examining a large map, a digital document, or even a complex project board, you might refer to the "southeast corner" to guide someone's attention to the bottom-right section. Whether you are navigating the high seas, describing a regional dialect, or pinpointing a detail on a page, "southeast" serves as a precise tool for locating anything positioned between the south and the east.
Examples
- 1
Building location
Their classroom is in the southeast corner of the building.
- 2
Relative location
The village lies about twenty miles southeast of the capital.
- Patternsoutheast of + place
farther south and east than that place
- 3
Travel direction
After lunch, we drove southeast toward the coast.
- 4
Wind direction
A warm wind blew in from the southeast overnight.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Regional agriculture
Rice is grown mainly in the southeast of the country.
See also
Similar
- SE
Shades of meaning
- southeastward
- southeasterly
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- to the southeast
- in the southeast
- southeast corner
- southeast wind
Word family
Explore
- compass point
- intercardinal direction
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- southeastnounadverbadjective