northwest
/nɔɹθˈwɛst/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.14 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The intercardinal compass point halfway between west and north; specifically at a bearing of 315°.
adj
Of, in or pertaining to the northwest; northwestern.
adj
Situated toward or in the direction of the northwest; northwestward; northwesterly.
adj
Coming from the northwest; northwesterly.
adv
Towards or in the direction of the northwest; northwestwards.
name
Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.
name
Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.
American usage
Example Sentences
- "a northwest course"
- "But on Friday, a U.S. Air Force plane carrying more than 70 deportees arrived around midday in the city of San Pedro Sula, about 100 miles northwest of Tegucigalpa, the capital."
- "a northwest wind"
- "We are travelling northwest at the moment."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: northwest, norþwest
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /nɔɹθˈwɛst/
- British English: /nɔːθˈwɛst/
Usage
- American usage
Inflected Forms
northwests (plural)
north-west (alternative, UK)
nor'-west (alternative)
NW (alternative, abbreviation)
more northwest (comparative)
most northwest (superlative)
further northwest (comparative)
farther northwest (comparative)
furthest northwest (superlative)
farthest northwest (superlative)
the Northwest (canonical)