1
: to, toward, or in the south
a house facing south
2
: into a state of decline or ruin
causes the sluggish economy to go south—
G. F. Will
G. F. Willsee also south of
1
: situated toward or at the south
the south entrance
2
: coming from the south
a south wind
1
a
: the direction of the south terrestrial pole : the direction to the right of one facing east
b
: the compass point directly opposite to north
2
capitalized
: regions or countries lying to the south of a specified or implied point of orientation
especially
: the southeastern part of the U.S.
3
: the right side of a church looking toward the altar from the nave
4
often capitalized
a
: the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the south or at the bottom of a diagram
b
: a person (such as a bridge player) occupying this position in the course of a specified activity
specifically
: the declarer in bridge
5
often capitalized
: the developing nations of the world : third world sense 1 compare north sense 2b
Examples of south in a Sentence
Adverb
Turn south onto Elm Street.
It's a mile south of here.
The birds fly south in the winter.
The company's profits have gone south in recent months.
The TV show's ratings have been heading south.
Noun
The wind blew from the south.
The birds migrate from the South.
Parts of the South were hit hard by the storm.
I grew up in the South.
The American Civil War was between the North and the South.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
Canada’s top comedic stars, from Jim Carrey and Mike Myers to Will Arnett and Howie Mandel, tended to go south to Los Angeles to expand their careers.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
But strolling on the south side of the Texas Union on Wednesday, the blue political signs touting the Democratic presidential ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz that lined the trees a day earlier had been replaced with white signs celebrating President-elect Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Metro Denver and the southern foothills will see 7 to 14 inches of snow starting Friday morning and continuing into Saturday, with the heaviest snowfall along Interstate 70 and to the south.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for south 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adverb
The 990-foot vessel was already supposed to have begun its journey south after spending years moored on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, but its departure has been delayed indefinitely.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
Canada’s top comedic stars, from Jim Carrey and Mike Myers to Will Arnett and Howie Mandel, tended to go south to Los Angeles to expand their careers.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Walgreens on South Layton Boulevard and West National Avenue on the south side was supposed to close by mid-November but abruptly closed early on Oct. 18, while it was announced Monday that the Walgreens at North 91st Street and West Appleton Avenue also will close.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
But strolling on the south side of the Texas Union on Wednesday, the blue political signs touting the Democratic presidential ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz that lined the trees a day earlier had been replaced with white signs celebrating President-elect Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
So, as wintery conditions have widened in the north, summer warmth has been spreading in the south.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Metro Denver and the southern foothills will see 7 to 14 inches of snow starting Friday morning and continuing into Saturday, with the heaviest snowfall along Interstate 70 and to the south.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for south
Dictionary Entries Near south
Cite this Entry
“South.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/south. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
south
1 of 3 adverb
: to or toward the south
south
2 of 3 adjective1
: situated toward or at the south
the south entrance
2
: coming from the south
a south wind
south
3 of 3 noun1
a
: the direction to the right of one facing east
b
: the compass point opposite to north
2
capitalized
: regions or countries south of a point that is mentioned or understood
especially
: the southeastern part of the U.S.
Biographical Definition
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