southwest by west: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Nautical
Quick answer
What does “southwest by west” mean?
A compass point that is one quarter of the way from southwest towards west-southwest.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A compass point that is one quarter of the way from southwest towards west-southwest.
Used in navigation, meteorology, and related fields to specify a precise direction, often in maritime or aviation contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; both employ the term identically in navigational contexts.
Connotations
Precision, tradition, and expertise in orientation or navigation.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech but standard and equally frequent in technical domains like sailing or weather reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “southwest by west” in a Sentence
Functions as a noun phrase; typically used as the object of prepositions like 'of' or 'to', e.g., 'a course of southwest by west'.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southwest by west” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not typically used as a verb.
American English
- Not typically used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- They adjusted their course southwest by west to avoid the reefs.
American English
- They adjusted their course southwest by west to avoid the reefs.
adjective
British English
- The southwest by west wind brought a chill to the coast.
American English
- The southwest-by-west wind brought a chill to the coast.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; may appear in shipping, logistics, or supply chain discussions involving routes.
Academic
Used in geography, navigation, meteorology, and maritime studies for precise directional references.
Everyday
Very rare; mostly encountered in hobbies like sailing, hiking, or weather enthusiasts' reports.
Technical
Common in navigation, aviation, sailing, and weather forecasting for exact bearings and wind directions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southwest by west”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southwest by west”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southwest by west”
- Mispronouncing by stressing 'by' incorrectly, confusing it with 'southwest' or 'west-southwest', or using it as a verb in non-standard ways.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a technical term rarely used outside navigation, meteorology, or specific hobbies like sailing.
It is commonly abbreviated as SWbW on charts, logs, and in maritime communications.
It corresponds to approximately 236.25° on a compass, measured clockwise from north.
No, 'southwest by west' is more precise, indicating a direction slightly west of southwest, whereas 'southwest' is a broader cardinal point.
A compass point that is one quarter of the way from southwest towards west-southwest.
Southwest by west is usually technical/nautical in register.
Southwest by west: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈwɛst baɪ ˈwɛst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈwɛst baɪ ˈwɛst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None commonly associated with this specific term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
From southwest, move a quarter step towards west: think 'southwest by a bit west' to recall southwest by west.
Conceptual Metaphor
Direction as a precise path; orientation as a tool for control and guidance in navigation.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'southwest by west' primarily used to describe?