1
a
: the general direction between south and west
b
: the point midway between the south and west compass points
2
capitalized
: regions or countries lying to the southwest of a specified or implied point of orientation
especially
: the southwestern part of the U.S.
1
: coming from the southwest
a southwest wind
2
: situated toward or at the southwest
the southwest corner
Examples of southwest in a Sentence
Adverb
It's about 80 miles southwest of here.
Noun
A mountain range is in the southwest of the country.
These plants grow in the Southwest.
Adjective
the southwest corner of the building
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Amy Stewart lives off the grid in Perry County, about two hours southwest of Nashville.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
Later that same day, another older ammunition was found at a home in Brockton, a city about a 60-mile drive southwest from Gloucester, the Boston Globe reported.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025
Cape Coral is part of the Fort Myers metropolitan area in southwest Florida.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for southwest
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Adverb
The authorities who responded to the snake sighting in Pinecrest — a village roughly 11 miles southwest of Miami — found a 14-foot Burmese python at the scene, located next to a busy road.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Amy Stewart lives off the grid in Perry County, about two hours southwest of Nashville.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
The recipes include British vinegars and oils, heritage breed pork from Dorset, beef from the Lake District, and fish from the southwest coast.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
Later that same day, another older ammunition was found at a home in Brockton, a city about a 60-mile drive southwest from Gloucester, the Boston Globe reported.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
These protectors will also serve to prevent bark from burning due to sun exposure, especially on the southwest side of the trunk.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025
Cape Coral is part of the Fort Myers metropolitan area in southwest Florida.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for southwest
Cite this Entry
“Southwest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwest. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
southwest
1 of 3 adverb
south·west
sau̇th-ˈwest 
nautical sau̇-ˈwest
: to or toward the southwest
southwest
2 of 3 noun1
: the direction between south and west
2
capitalized
: regions or countries southwest of a point that is mentioned or understood
southwest
3 of 3 adjective1
: coming from the southwest
a southwest wind
2
: situated toward or at the southwest
the southwest corner
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