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
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/ˈsaʊθbaʊnd/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S AW1 TH B AW2 N D
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Which is (or will be) travelling south.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
We took the southbound train to Barcelona.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Toward the south.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
The truck raced southbound, then careened into the ditch.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
moving toward the south
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a southbound train
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: southward
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *sunþ Proto-Indo-European *sóh2wl̥ Proto-Indo-European *sh2w-én-s Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Indo-European *sh2ún-teros Proto-Germanic *sunþraz ▲ Proto-Germanic *sunþraz Proto-Germanic *sunþrą Proto-West Germanic *sunþr Old English sūþ Middle English south English south English -bound English southbound From south + -bound.
Across languages
Translations
13 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
пътуващ на юг
(pǎtuvašt na jug)
— travelling south