- in, towards, or (esp of a wind) from the northwest
- a wind or storm from the northwest
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
north•west•er•ly
(nôrth′wes′tər lē; Naut. nôr′wes′tər lē),USA pronunciation adj., adv.
- Nautical, Naval Termstoward or from the northwest.
- northwester + -ly 1605–15
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
northwesterly /ˌnɔːθˈwɛstəlɪ; ˌnɔːˈwɛstəlɪ/ adj , adv
north•west /ˌnɔrθˈwɛst/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
adj.
adv.
north•west•ern, adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Naval Terms, Geography, Nauticala point on the compass midway between north and west. Abbr.: NW
- Geographya region in this direction.
- Place Names the Northwest:
- the northwestern part of the United States when its western boundary was the Mississippi River.
- the northwestern part of Canada.
adj.
- Naval Terms, Nauticalin, toward, or facing the northwest:the northwest corner.
- coming from the northwest:a northwest wind.
adv.
- Naval Terms, Nauticaltoward the northwest:sailing northwest.
north•west•ern, adj.
north•west
(nôrth′west′; Naut. nôr′west′),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
adv.
- Naval Terms, Geography, Nauticala point on the compass midway between north and west. Abbr.: NW
- Geographya region in this direction.
- Place Names the Northwest:
- the northwestern part of the United States, esp. Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
- the northwestern part of the United States when its western boundary was the Mississippi River.
- the northwestern part of Canada.
adj.
- Also, north′west′ern. coming from the northwest:a northwest wind.
- Naval Terms, Nauticaldirected toward the northwest:sailing a northwest course.
adv.
- Naval Terms, Nauticalfrom the northwest.
- Naval Terms, Nauticaltoward the northwest:sailing northwest.
- bef. 900; Middle English, Old English; see north, west