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🧭 Facing north 💨 From the north ⬆️ To the north 🌬️ A north wind
northerly

northerly

2 2.6
Facing toward the north
  • adjective
  • /ˈnɔrðərli/
: hacia el norte
  • When the winter approaches in the Antarctic, they're going to move to northerly climes to have their calves.
  • more northerly
  • most northerly

I'm living in a northerly climb, which is dark all winter.

Examples

  • Readis's brown arm indicated a general northerly direction.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The search advanced in a northerly direction.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • World's most northerly lake comes back to life.

    Blog text (19)

  • Jimmy, according to the statistics, our chances remain better if we move into a northerly direction, towards Canada.

    Chain Reaction (2006)

  • In those that do, the focus is primarily on the region's more northerly sections.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Tourism is one of the few sectors of the territorial economy in which the northerly location is as much a benefit as a hindrance to development.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Baskett Slough, the most northerly of these refuges, has much to offer the outdoor lover.

    Blog text (1)

  • Recent surveys have also found that the more northerly a bird's distribution in France, the more it has declined since 1989 (Julliard et al. 2004), a trend that is probably associated with warming.

    Academic text (2007)

  • To reach the campsite, we needed to take a northerly route through the forest.

  • The boat sailed on a northerly heading as we explored the coastline.

Synonyms

north
vsnortherly
∞ 1.0

Located on or coming from the top side of a map

means oriented or moving toward that top direction rather than origin
due north
vsnortherly
11 2.9

The direction on a compass that points exactly to the North Pole

refers to general orientation toward that compass area, not an exact bearing
northward
vsnortherly
5 2.0

Moving or facing toward the north

means being oriented or situated toward that top direction
northern
vsnortherly
2 1.1

Coming from the north, as with wind or weather

means oriented or moving toward that top direction instead of originating there

Antonyms

southerly
4 2.8

In, facing, or moving toward the south

How Northern

northernmost
8 3.4
northerly
2 2.6
northern
  • US
29 2.0
central
749 1.0
southern
  • US
414 2.0

Surface Forms

northerly positive
northerlier comparative
northerliest superlative

Morphology

northerly = norther (transparent) = north + er + ly

The sense 'oriented toward or situated in the north' is a straightforward adjectival meaning derived from the directional base using regular suffixation.

Etymology

Northerly joins north ('the north') with the ending -erly, meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of', so it describes something that faces or moves 'toward the north'.