Standard Lemma guide

northbound

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
  • German: nach Norden — toward the north
  • German: Richtung Norden — toward the north
  • Russian: на се́вер (na séver) — toward the north
  • Swedish: norrut — toward the north
  • Swedish: norrgående — toward the north
Real reading context

northbound in complete knowledge articles