1
: situated toward or at the north
the north entrance
2
: coming from the north
a north wind
1
a
: the direction of the north terrestrial pole : the direction to the left of one facing east
b
: the compass point directly opposite to south
2
capitalized
a
: regions or countries lying to the north of a specified or implied point of orientation
b
: the industrially and economically developed nations of the world compare south sense 5
3
often capitalized
a
: the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the north or at the top of a diagram
b
: a person occupying this position in the course of a specified activity (such as the game of bridge)
Examples of north in a Sentence
Adverb
Turn north onto Elm Street.
It's a few miles north of here.
The bird is found as far north as Canada.
Noun
The wind is coming from the north.
The birds migrate from the North.
Parts of the North were hit hard by the storm.
I grew up in the North.
The American Civil War was between the North and the South.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2025
The 37th state Senate district takes in most of Broward east of Interstate 95 from Davie Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale north to the Palm Beach County line.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2025
Jillian Ellison, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
The project, at a key link for north suburban commuters to downtown Indianapolis, began in the spring of 2023.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Dec. 2024
Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
At the corner of 4th Street and Kings Drive, just shy of uptown Charlotte, a bronze sculpture depicts a man, determined, headed north atop his galloping horse.
—Virginia Brown, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for north
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.
Adverb
After an inaugural season in Antarctica in late 2025, the 86-cabin Mawson will head north to the Adriatic Sea and spend the summer visiting the Dalmatian Coast, Greece, and Turkey.
—Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2025
The 37th state Senate district takes in most of Broward east of Interstate 95 from Davie Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale north to the Palm Beach County line.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2025
Adjective
In an Indiana warehouse area on Lafayette's north end, little plastic chips are fed into a machine to be colored red and spun into the shape of a drinking straw.
—Jillian Ellison, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
The project, at a key link for north suburban commuters to downtown Indianapolis, began in the spring of 2023.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
Northwest officials selected Torres, 21, a business major, to deliver the student address at the university’s 59th commencement ceremony held outside on the campus’ north side.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
At the corner of 4th Street and Kings Drive, just shy of uptown Charlotte, a bronze sculpture depicts a man, determined, headed north atop his galloping horse.
—Virginia Brown, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for north
Cite this Entry
“North.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/north. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
north
1 of 3 adverb
: to or toward the north
north
2 of 3 adjective1
: placed or lying toward or at the north
the north entrance
2
: coming from the north
a north wind
north
3 of 3 noun1
a
: the direction to the left of one facing east
b
: the compass point opposite to south
2
capitalized
: regions or countries north of a point that is mentioned or understood
Biographical Definition
North
2 of 3biographical name (2)
Frederick 1732–1792 Lord North English statesman; prime minister (1770–82)
North
3 of 3biographical name (3)
Sir Thomas 1535–?1603 English translator
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share