Adjectives of Direction

the direction or side that is toward the east when someone or something is facing north

The sun rises from the east, which is to the right if you're facing north.

to go away from somewhere

She left her friends at the party without any goodbye.

the part or surface of an object that is faced forward, seen first, or used first

She stood at the front of the line to buy tickets for the concert.

the part of an object located on the opposite side from its front

The car's rear was dented in the accident.

positioned across and parallel to the ground and not up or down

The table was adorned with horizontal stripes.

positioned at a right angle to the horizon or ground, typically moving up or down

The skyscraper's vertical lines gave it a sleek and modern appearance.

going from one place to another in a straight line without stopping or changing direction

The direct route to the airport takes approximately twenty minutes by car.

having an equal distance from each other at every point

The two lines on the graph are parallel, indicating no change in their relationship.

the direction on our right when we watch the sunrise

The sun rises in the east and sets in the south during the summer.

the direction on our left when we watch the sunrise

Canada is located to the north of the United States.

the direction from which the sun rises, which is on the right side of a person facing north

The wind is blowing from the east today.

the direction toward which the sun goes down, which is on the left side of a person facing north

The west is home to vast deserts, rolling plains, and majestic mountain ranges.

the direction midway between north and east

The storm is moving in from the northeast.

the direction midway between north and west

If you look to the northwest, you can see the mountain range.

the direction midway between south and east

The storm is moving toward the southeast, bringing heavy rain.

the direction midway between south and west

The wind blew from the southwest.

to or toward the front

She stepped forward to address the audience.

in or to the direction opposite to the front

She took a step backward to create some space.

toward a higher level

The elevator smoothly ascended, moving upward to the top floor.

moving or situated toward a lower point or area in space

The downward motion of the elevator made me feel a bit uneasy.

a gear in a vehicle's transmission system used to make it move backward

She shifted into reverse to back out of the parking space.

positioned diagonally or at an angle, without being parallel or perpendicular

The oblique rays of sunlight created interesting shadows on the wall.

placed across another thing in a way that there is a right angle between the two of them

She noticed the transverse crack running along the wall.

toward the center or inside of something

The labyrinth's path wound inward, guiding participants toward the center.

having to do with the external or visible appearance, as opposed to the inner or hidden qualities

His outward actions suggested he was confident, though he felt unsure inside.

(of a straight line) joining opposite corners of a flat shape at an angle

The diagonal line on the graph represented the trend of increasing sales over time.

moving or turning in the same direction as the hands of a clock

The clockwise rotation of the ceiling fan helps circulate air in the room.

moving or turning in the opposite direction to the clockwise motion

The counterclockwise rotation of the propeller caused the airplane to turn left.

to incline or tilt, creating an oblique or diagonal angle in a specified direction

The old tower had weathered many storms, causing it to slant slightly to the side.

opposite in order or effect

The inverse order of the names on the list caused a bit of confusion.

arriving or coming toward a particular place or person

The incoming train pulled into the station right on schedule.

moving toward a particular place or person

The oncoming storm brought strong winds and heavy rain.

toward a lower position or level

She carefully climbed down the ladder to reach the ground safely.

in or to the direction behind us

He stepped back to give his friend more room to dance.

against the current of a river or stream

They paddled upstream against the strong current to reach their favorite fishing spot.

in the direction of or further along the flow of a current

The debris floated downstream after the storm.

toward or in the direction of one side

She glanced sideways at her friend during the meeting.