southerly

1 of 2

adjective or adverb

south·​er·​ly ˈsə-t͟hər-lē How to pronounce southerly (audio)
1
: situated toward or belonging to the south
the southerly shore of the lake
2
: coming from the south
a southerly wind

southerly

2 of 2

noun

plural southerlies
: a wind from the south

Examples of southerly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective or adverb
Continue in the southerly direction, appreciating the gnarled coast live oaks and sound of shy red-eared sliders plopping off their logs into the water. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026 The return of southerly winds could result in a foggy commute across much of the Houston metro area Thursday, ahead of an arctic cold front overnight. Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
Highs in the mid-70s Wednesday actually will inch towards 80 degrees by Thursday, a boost made possible by the return of warm southerly winds ahead of the next cold front. Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026 Quick warming trend coming After the bitter cold start on Sunday, southerly winds will return, sending much warmer air into the state. Anthony Franze, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for southerly

Word History

Etymology

Adjective or adverb

south entry 3 + -erly (as in easterly)

First Known Use

Adjective Or Adverb

1550, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of southerly was in 1550

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southerly. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

southerly

adverb or adjective
south·​er·​ly
ˈsət͟h-ər-lē
1
: toward the south
2
: coming from the south

More from Merriam-Webster on southerly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster