northeast
gb/nˌɔɹθˈist/ us/nˌɔɹθˈist/
A2
English
~ 5800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
relation
1
direction between north and east
The direction halfway between north and east.
Usage pattern:
to the northeast (of [a place])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "northeast" with "northwest" because both are long words starting with "north". Remember that "east" is on the right side of most maps, so "northeast" is between north and the right side.
Synonyms
NE (Abbreviation often used on maps and signs instead of writing the full word.)
Antonyms
southwest (The opposite compass direction, halfway between south and west.)
Collocations
to the northeast
|northeast of [a place]
|north-northeast
|facing northeast
|from the northeast
Themes
geography
|travel
|space
Examples
- The city lies directly northeast of the capital.
- We could see dark clouds building in the northeast.
- Drive northeast for about 50 miles until you reach the coast.
Learner examples
- The town is northeast of here.
- Turn to the northeast and walk to the river.
- They live in a small village to the northeast of the city.
Noun
A2
entity
2
northeastern part of an area
The area in the northeast part of a country, city, or land.
Usage pattern:
in the northeast (of [a place])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "in the northeast of the side" or mix up levels (city vs. country). Say "in the northeast of the city" or "in the northeast of France", not "in the northeast of side of France".
Synonyms
northeastern part (More explicit phrase; slightly longer and more formal-sounding.)
Antonyms
southwest (Refers to the opposite part of the same larger area.)
Collocations
in the northeast
|the northeast of [country]
|from the northeast
|across the northeast
|northeast region
Themes
geography
|daily life
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Heavy snow is expected in the northeast of the country tonight.
- The northeast of Spain is popular with hikers.
- Industry is growing quickly in the northeast of the city.
Learner examples
- I live in the northeast of the country.
- The northeast of the island is very green.
- There was a big storm in the northeast yesterday.
Noun
B1
entity
3
northeastern region of the US
The group of states in the northeast part of the United States.
Usage pattern:
in the Northeast
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write "northeast" with a small letter when referring to this U.S. region. When it is the name of the region, write it with a capital letter: "the Northeast".
Synonyms
the northeastern U.S. (More explicit geographic phrase; slightly more formal and descriptive.)
Antonyms
the Southwest (Named U.S. region generally seen as opposite in location and climate.)
Collocations
in the Northeast
|across the Northeast
|Northeast states
|from the Northeast
|the urban Northeast
Themes
geography
|culture
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Winters in the Northeast can be long and snowy.
- Many of the country’s oldest universities are in the Northeast.
- She grew up in the Northeast but moved to California for work.
Learner examples
- New York is in the Northeast of the United States.
- Many people in the Northeast take the train to work.
- The Northeast has cold winters and hot summers.
adjective
B1
property
4
in or from the northeast part
In, from, or about the northeast part of a place.
Usage pattern:
a northeast [area/street/district/region]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add "-ern" and say "northeastern side" when they mean the simple adjective. Both "northeast side" and "northeastern side" are correct, but you should not mix forms like "northeast-ern".
Synonyms
northeastern (More formal and slightly more common before nouns in writing.)
Antonyms
southwest (Describes the opposite side or area of the same larger place.)
Collocations
northeast corner
|northeast side
|northeast border
|northeast suburbs
|northeast coast
Themes
geography
|daily life
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They live in the northeast suburbs of the city.
- The hotel is in the northeast corner of the square.
- The northeast coast is known for its beautiful cliffs.
Learner examples
- We moved to the northeast part of town.
- There is a big park in the northeast area.
- The northeast border of the country is a river.
adjective
technical
B2
property
5
coming from the northeast
Coming from or going in the northeast direction, especially about wind or a path.
Usage pattern:
a northeast [wind/breeze/route/trend]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse "northeast wind" (usually meaning a wind coming from the northeast) with a wind blowing toward the northeast. In traditional weather use, a "northeast wind" comes from the northeast.
Synonyms
northeasterly (More technical or formal term often used in weather reports.)
Antonyms
southwest (Used of wind or movement from or toward the opposite direction.)
Collocations
northeast wind
|northeast breeze
|northeast trade winds
|northeast route
|northeast flow
Themes
weather
|travel
|space
Examples
- A strong northeast wind is blowing along the coast.
- We followed a northeast route across the desert.
- The storm brought heavy rain on a cold northeast wind.
Learner examples
- Today there is a light northeast wind.
- The plane takes a northeast path over the ocean.
- A cold northeast wind made the city feel even colder.
adverb
B1
relation
6
toward the northeast direction
Going or pointing to the northeast.
Usage pattern:
to go/drive/move northeast
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add a preposition and say "to northeast" as an adverb. Say "go northeast", not "go to northeast" unless you mean a specific place called Northeast.
Synonyms
northeastward (Slightly more formal and less common variant with the same basic meaning.)
Antonyms
southwest (As an adverb, indicates movement in the opposite direction.)
Collocations
head northeast
|travel northeast
|drive northeast
|move northeast
|continue northeast
Themes
travel
|geography
|space
Examples
- We continued northeast along the coast road.
- The storm is expected to move northeast overnight.
- From this point, the trail turns sharply northeast.
Learner examples
- The river flows northeast to the sea.
- We will drive northeast for two hours.
- The road goes northeast after the bridge.
Grammar
Dictionary form
northeast
IPA
GB/nˌɔɹθˈist/
US/nˌɔɹθˈist/
Syllables & stress
north - east (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (east)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: northeast
Noun
- Base: northeast
Word family
Core family
northeastern
adjective B1
Negative and opposite forms
southwest
noun A2
southwestern
adjective
Advanced or less common
northeasterly
adjective
northeastward
adverb
Expressions
Northeast Corridor
1/nˌɔɹθˈist kˈɔɹɪdˌɔɹ/
fixed phrase
technical
main passenger rail line in U.S. Northeast
The busy train route in the United States that runs between Boston and Washington, D.C.
Examples
- Thousands of commuters use the Northeast Corridor every day.
- High-speed service on the Northeast Corridor is often crowded.
- The storm caused major delays along the Northeast Corridor.
the Northeast
1/ðə nˌɔɹθˈist/
fixed phrase
U.S. region in the northeast
The group of U.S. states in the northeast part of the country, including places like New York and Massachusetts.
Examples
- Many people in the Northeast rely on public transportation.
- Housing costs in the Northeast are higher than in many other regions.
- After college, he moved from the Midwest to the Northeast.