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Definition of northeasterly

northeasterly

/ˌnɔːrθˈiːstərli/
north · east · er · ly
Plural:northeasterlies
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northeasterly Lexical Profile

northeasterly Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Situated toward, facing, or moving in the direction of the northeast.

Example

"The expedition followed a northeasterly route across the rugged mountain range."

2

Coming or blowing from the northeast (especially of winds, storms, or ocean currents).

Example

"Brisk northeasterly winds brought a sudden drop in temperature along the coast."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• adverb

1

Toward the northeast; or (of wind) from the northeast.

Example

"The river bends sharply and flows northeasterly toward the sea."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for northeasterly
Antonyms
View all antonyms for northeasterly

• noun

1

A wind or storm that blows from the northeast.

Example

"The sailors reefed their sails as a strong northeasterly swept across the bay."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for northeasterly
Antonyms
View all antonyms for northeasterly

Word Nuance & Usage

When describing winds or ocean currents, 'northeasterly' means coming from the northeast, whereas when describing travel or movement, it means heading toward the northeast.

• Rhymes for northeasterly

• Nearby Words

northbound
northeast
northeaster
northeasterly
northeastern
northeasterner
northeastward

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Northeasterly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/northeasterly
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