southbound

adjective

south·​bound ˈsau̇th-ˌbau̇nd How to pronounce southbound (audio)
: traveling or heading south

Examples of southbound in a Sentence

The southbound lanes are closed to traffic.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then there are the southbound travelers, who are often passing through Tijuana en route to other destinations like the surfable beaches of Rosarito and vineyards of the Valle de Guadalupe. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026 Detours for southbound motorists Southbound travelers looking to access College Street can continue using Exit 1E and the South Boulevard/Caldwell Street ramp to turn right on South Caldwell Street, then left on Brooklyn Village Avenue. — Dj Simmons, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2026 Officers pulled over the suspects during a traffic enforcement stop near Kansas Avenue and southbound Highway 99 , where a K-9 partner positively alerted authorities to drugs hidden in the vehicle, the Modesto Police Department said on Tuesday. — Makena Locsin, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 According to an initial crash narrative released by the agency, a truck was traveling southbound in the middle lane while carrying two portable toilets when one of them fell into the roadway. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for southbound

Word History

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of southbound was in 1655

Rhymes for southbound

See All Rhymes for southbound

Browse Nearby Words

South Bend
southbound
south by east
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southbound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southbound. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

southbound

adjective
south·​bound ˈsau̇th-ˌbau̇nd How to pronounce southbound (audio)
: headed south
a southbound train

More from Merriam-Webster on southbound

Nglish: Translation of southbound for Spanish Speakers

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