southwest: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral. Common in everyday, geographical, meteorological, and travel contexts.
Quick answer
What does “southwest” mean?
The compass point midway between south and west.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The compass point midway between south and west.
The direction or region lying toward this point; often used to describe a specific geographic area within a country (e.g., the American Southwest) characterized by a particular climate, culture, or landscape.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'the Southwest' typically refers to regions like Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset. In the US, 'the Southwest' refers to states like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Nevada, with strong associations to desert landscapes and specific cultural heritage.
Connotations
UK: Often connotes coastal areas, farmland, and a milder climate. US: Strongly connotes arid deserts, canyons, Native American and Hispanic cultures, and a distinct architectural style.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US English due to the prominence of the Southwest as a major cultural and geographic region.
Grammar
How to Use “southwest” in a Sentence
[to be] + southwest + of + [location][travel/head/move] + southwest[a/the] + southwest + [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southwest” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The weather in the southwest is particularly mild this time of year.
- Bristol is a major port in the southwest of England.
American English
- The landscapes of the Southwest are incredibly dramatic.
- He moved from Chicago to the Southwest for the dry climate.
adverb
British English
- After Oxford, continue southwest for another twenty miles.
- The storm is moving steadily southwest.
American English
- Interstate 10 runs southwest from Los Angeles toward Phoenix.
- The wildfire spread rapidly southwest due to the winds.
adjective
British English
- A strong southwest gale is forecast for the Channel.
- We sat in the southwest corner of the beer garden.
American English
- They built a house with a southwest exposure to capture the light.
- Southwest airlines is a major carrier.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in logistics for routing ('The shipment is coming from the southwest district.')
Academic
Used in geography, meteorology, and cultural studies ('The archaeology of the American Southwest.').
Everyday
Giving directions ('The shop is in the southwest part of town.') or discussing weather ('A southwest wind will bring warmer air.')
Technical
Aviation (runway designation SW), sailing, surveying, and meteorology (wind direction).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southwest”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southwest”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southwest”
- Using 'south-west' with a hyphen in modern American English (solid compound is standard).
- Capitalization error: 'southwest' vs 'the Southwest' (the latter is a proper noun for the region).
- Using it as a verb ('We southwested').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern English, especially American English, the solid form 'southwest' is standard. The hyphenated form is largely archaic but may be found in older British texts.
Capitalize it when it is part of a proper name (Southwest Airlines) or when it refers to a specific, recognized region (the American Southwest, the Southwest of France). Do not capitalize when giving general directions (head southwest).
'Southwest' is primarily a noun or adverb for direction. 'Southwestern' is an adjective describing something originating from or characteristic of the southwest region (southwestern architecture, southwestern cuisine).
No, 'southwest' is not used as a verb. Use phrases like 'travel southwest', 'head southwest', or 'move southwest' instead.
The compass point midway between south and west.
Southwest is usually neutral. common in everyday, geographical, meteorological, and travel contexts. in register.
Southwest: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈwɛst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈwɛst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Wild West (related to US Southwest cultural image)”
- “go south (informal for fail, but not directionally specific)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the face of a clock. South is 6 o'clock, West is 9 o'clock. Southwest is halfway between them, at 7:30.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A DESTINATION (e.g., 'We are moving into the southwest.'); A REGION IS A CHARACTER (e.g., 'The Southwest is calling me.').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'southwest' used as an adverb?