southeastern

adjective

south·​east·​ern sau̇th-ˈē-stərn How to pronounce southeastern (audio)
sau̇-ˈē-
1
often Southeastern : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated southeast
2
: lying toward or coming from the southeast
southeasternmost
sau̇th-ˈē-stərn-ˌmōst How to pronounce southeastern (audio)
sau̇-ˈē-
adjective

Examples of southeastern in a Sentence

the southeastern corner of the state
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Farther east, including the I-35 corridor and the metroplex, rain chances will generally range from 30–50%, with lower probabilities toward our southeastern counties. — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Tornadoes were possible in parts of Virginia and North Carolina, and life-threatening surf and rip current conditions were expected to continue along the Gulf and southeastern Atlantic coasts. — Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026 An example is Hurricane Harvey, which hit southeastern Texas in late August 2017. — Zachary Handlos, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 Two black-sand beaches flank the steep mountain at the southeastern corner of the island. — Rick Steves, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for southeastern

Word History

Etymology

southeast entry 2 + -ern (as in eastern)

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of southeastern was before the 12th century

Rhymes for southeastern

See All Rhymes for southeastern

Browse Nearby Words

southeasterly
southeastern
Southeasterner
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southeastern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southeastern. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

southeastern

adjective
south·​east·​ern sau̇-ˈthē-stərn How to pronounce southeastern (audio)
sau̇-ˈē-
1
often capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Southeast
2
: lying toward or coming from the southeast
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