northerly

1 of 2

adjective or adverb

north·​er·​ly ˈnȯr-t͟hər-lē How to pronounce northerly (audio)
1
: situated toward or belonging to the north
the northerly border
2
: coming from the north
a northerly wind

northerly

2 of 2

noun

plural northerlies
: a wind from the north

Examples of northerly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective or adverb
Less humid by dawn, but still mild, with low temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s amid noticeable northerly breezes. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2023 Could the Khoisan as well have been originally more widespread until their more northerly populations were somehow eliminated? Jared Diamond, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2023 Though they may be overlooked at times because of the grandeur of their northerly neighbor, Big Sur, they are laid-back and beautiful. Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2024 Watch Sharp Objects on Max Yellowjackets With its supernatural horror and northerly setting, Yellowjackets is an unexpected show that Night Country fans will love. Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 19 Feb. 2024 Breezes from generally northerly directions blow all day but morning gusts could be around 25 mph. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2024 Several periods of longshore currents produced by northerly winds have been seen off Florida's east coast, said Robert Haley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Melbourne, Florida. USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2024 On Thursday, there will be a shift in the weather pattern that will bring northerly winds and cooler temperatures, which are expected to reach the upper 40s. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2024 Overnight, drier air will move in upon northerly breezes under mostly clear skies. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'northerly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective or adverb

north entry 3 + -erly (as in easterly)

First Known Use

Adjective Or Adverb

circa 1544, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of northerly was circa 1544

Dictionary Entries Near northerly

Cite this Entry

“Northerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northerly. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

northerly

1 of 2 adjective or adverb
north·​er·​ly ˈnȯr-t͟hər-lē How to pronounce northerly (audio)
1
: placed or lying toward the north
the northerly border
2
: coming from the north
a northerly wind

northerly

2 of 2 noun
plural northerlies
: a wind from the north
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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