eastern

adjective

east·​ern ˈē-stərn 

1

capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated East

2

capitalized

a

: of, relating to, or being the Christian churches originating in the church of the Eastern Roman Empire

b

: eastern orthodox

3

a

: lying toward the east

b

: coming from the east

an eastern wind

Examples of eastern in a Sentence

They live in the eastern part of the state.

the eastern shore of the river

Recent Examples on the Web

After another apparent operational pause, one or more of the big guns rolled into action with the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group in eastern Ukraine last month. —David Axe, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025

Overnight there was another massive Russian drone attack in the eastern city of Zaporizhzhia that left a residential neighborhood devastated. —CBS News, 2 Mar. 2025

When to see the 'Blaze Star' In March 2025, Corona Borealis will rise in the eastern sky about three hours after sunset. —Jamie Carter, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2025

This is where the 4G signal is best around here in Kamianka, a village in eastern Ukraine reduced to rubble and seeded with mines when Russia invaded three years ago. —Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English estern, from Old English ēasterne; akin to Old High German ōstrōni eastern, Old English ēast east

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing eastern

• eastern bluebird
• eastern equine encephalitis
• eastern equine encephalomyelitis
• eastern hemisphere
• eastern rat snake
• eastern time
• eastern white pine

Rhymes for eastern

• northeastern
• southeastern

Kids Definition

eastern

adjective

east·​ern ˈē-stərn 

1

capitalized : of, relating to, or like that of the East

Eastern religion

2

: lying toward or coming from the east

easternmost

-ˌmōst 

adjective