northwestern
gb/nˌɔɹθwˈɛstɚn/ us/nˌɔɹθwˈɛstɚn/
A2
English
~ 9900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
in or from the northwest part
in, from, or about the northwest part of a place
Usage pattern:
northwestern [region/country/city]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'northwestern' with the phrase 'northwest of'. Use 'northwestern' before a noun to describe a part of something (e.g. 'northwestern Germany'), but use 'northwest of' with another place as a reference (e.g. 'The town is northwest of Berlin'). Another issue is dropping the final '-ern' and saying *'northwest part' when a single adjective is needed; both 'northwest part' and 'northwestern part' are possible, but before many nouns like 'region' or 'province', 'northwestern' sounds more natural.
Synonyms
northwest (Often used attributively in the same way (e.g. 'northwest Spain'); slightly shorter and more common in headlines and maps.)
|
northwesterly (More formal and less common for places; more often refers to direction or winds than to regions.)
Antonyms
southeastern (Describes something in or from the opposite part of a place, the southeast instead of the northwest.)
Collocations
northwestern United States
|northwestern Europe
|northwestern corner
|northwestern region
|northwestern suburbs
|northwestern border
Themes
geography
|travel
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many tech companies are moving into the northwestern suburbs of the city.
- The northwestern region of the country is known for its rainy climate.
- We spent our vacation driving through northwestern Spain and Portugal.
- Oil was discovered in the northwestern part of the province.
- She grew up in a small town in northwestern Canada.
Learner examples
- I live in the northwestern part of the city.
- They took a trip to northwestern France.
- The northwestern coast is very beautiful.
- Rain is common in the northwestern area of the country.
- He works at a factory in the northwestern region.
adjective
B2
property
2
coming from the northwest direction
coming from the northwest side or direction
Usage pattern:
northwestern [wind/breeze/front/flow]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'northwestern wind' with 'wind to the northwest'. 'Northwestern wind' means the wind comes from the northwest, not that it is blowing toward the northwest. In weather English, the named direction is where the wind starts, not where it goes.
Synonyms
northwesterly (More standard and frequent in weather reports and technical descriptions of wind and movement.)
Antonyms
southeastern (When describing winds or systems, indicates they come from the opposite direction, the southeast.)
Collocations
northwestern wind
|northwestern breeze
|northwestern flow
|northwestern weather system
|northwestern air mass
Themes
weather
|science
|space
Examples
- A strong northwestern wind blew across the lake all afternoon.
- Tomorrow a cool northwestern air mass will reach the coast.
- The storm followed a northwestern path through the region.
- Fishermen stayed in port because of the cold northwestern breeze.
- The city experienced dry, northwestern winds after the front passed.
Learner examples
- A cold northwestern wind is blowing today.
- The plane took off against a light northwestern breeze.
- We expect a northwestern wind late tonight.
- The northwestern wind makes the air feel colder.
- Clouds are moving in with a northwestern flow.
Grammar
Dictionary form
northwestern
IPA
GB/nˌɔɹθwˈɛstɚn/
US/nˌɔɹθwˈɛstɚn/
Syllables & stress
north - west - ern (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (west)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: northwestern
- Comparative: northwesterner
- Superlative: northwesternest
Word family
Forms
northwesterner
adjective
northwesternest
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
southeastern
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
northwesterly
adjective/adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.