adj · adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Canada, US:/ˈnɔɹθbaʊnd/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:N AO1 R TH B AW0 N D
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Heading or moving in a northerly direction; or of infrastructure, intended for travelling northwards.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
She will leave on the northbound bus.
There are roadworks on the northbound carriageway.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Towards the north.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
He was travelling northbound on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
moving toward the north
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the northbound lane
we took the north train
the northward flow of traffic
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: northward
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *nér Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Indo-European *nŕ̥t(e)ros Proto-Germanic *nurþraz Proto-West Germanic *norþr Old English norþ Middle English north English north English -bound English northbound From north + -bound.
Across languages
Translations
10 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
北行
(běixíng)
— heading or moving in a northerly direction
German:
nach Norden
— heading or moving in a northerly direction
German:
Richtung Norden
— heading or moving in a northerly direction
Swedish:
norrgående
— heading or moving in a northerly direction
Chinese Mandarin:
北上
(běishàng)
— toward the north