southeasterly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical (Meteorology, Navigation)
Quick answer
What does “southeasterly” mean?
Situated in, directed towards, or coming from the southeast.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Situated in, directed towards, or coming from the southeast.
Describing movement, direction, or origin from the southeastern quadrant; also a wind blowing from the southeast.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. In US weather reporting, 'southeasterly' is common; UK reports may occasionally use 'south-easterly' with a hyphen, though solid form is standard.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. Associated with weather, wind, and geographical description.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English due to maritime and meteorological tradition, but widely used in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “southeasterly” in a Sentence
[Adj] + wind/direction/course[Adv] + move/travel/headA [Noun] (wind) + from the southeastVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southeasterly” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The storm is expected to southeasterly as it approaches the coast.
American English
- The front will southeasterly overnight, bringing moisture from the Gulf.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in logistics or shipping (e.g., 'southeasterly trade routes').
Academic
Used in geography, meteorology, and environmental sciences.
Everyday
Used in weather forecasts and giving directions.
Technical
Standard in meteorology (wind direction), aviation, and maritime navigation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southeasterly”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southeasterly”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southeasterly”
- Confusing 'southeasterly' (direction/origin) with 'southeastern' (position/region). Using it as a noun for anything other than a wind (e.g., 'He is a southeasterly' is wrong).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Southeastern' describes a fixed position or region (e.g., southeastern France). 'Southeasterly' describes direction, movement, or origin (e.g., a southeasterly wind).
No, it is not used to describe people's origins or characteristics. It is used for geographical direction, wind, and movement.
The hyphenated form is less common but sometimes seen, particularly in older British texts. The solid form 'southeasterly' is the modern standard in both UK and US English.
In British English: /ˌsaʊθˈiːstəli/. In American English: /ˌsaʊθˈiːstərli/. The main difference is the final vowel sound (schwa vs. /ər/).
Situated in, directed towards, or coming from the southeast.
Southeasterly is usually formal, technical (meteorology, navigation) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SOUTH + EAST + -erly. It's the 'erly' way to go from the southeast.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A FORCE (e.g., 'a strong southeasterly pushed the clouds').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'southeasterly' used as a noun?