southeast

American  

[south-eest, sou-eest] / ˌsaʊθˈist, ˌsaʊˈist /

noun

1. the point or direction midway between south and east. SE

2. a region in this direction.

3. (initial capital letter) the southeast region of the United States.

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adjective

1. lying toward, situated in, or directed toward the southeast.

2. coming from the southeast, as a wind.

adverb

1. in the direction midway between south and east.

southeast ¹ British  

/ ˌsaʊθˈiːst, ˌsaʊˈiːst /

noun

1. the point of the compass or the direction midway between south and east, 135° clockwise from north

2. any area lying in or towards this direction

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adjective

1. (sometimes capital) of or denoting the southeastern part of a specified country, area, etc

2. situated in, proceeding towards, or facing the southeast

3. (esp of the wind) from the southeast

adverb

1. in, to, towards, or (esp of the wind) from the southeast

Southeast ² British  

/ ˌsaʊθˈiːst /

noun

1. the southeastern part of Britain, esp the London area

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Other Word Forms

• southeastern adjective
• southeasternmost adjective

Etymology

Origin of southeast

before 900; Middle English southest, Old English sūthēast. See south, east

Example Sentences

In the event, according to Nasa's TV coverage, the angle of attack was perfect and the capsule hit a narrow target of sky southeast of Hawaii as it headed for the Californian coast.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Houston Food Bank, which distributes food and other essentials in southeast Texas counties, has been doing special distributions for TSA workers during the partial government shutdown, according to its president and CEO Brian Greene.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The former midwife was formally installed in the historic ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral in southeast England in front of around 2,000 people including heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Catherine.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

The Southeast Gateway Line, a new 14.5-mile light rail line connecting the A line to Artesia that will serve largely working-class Latino communities across southeast L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

So we headed for Orosi, a small town a few miles southeast of Fresno.

From "The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child" by Francisco Jiménez