east

1 of 3

adverb

ˈēst 

: to, toward, or in the east

east

2 of 3

adjective

1

: situated toward or at the east

an east window

2

: coming from the east

an east wind

east

3 of 3

noun

1

a

: the general direction of sunrise : the direction toward the right of one facing north

b

: the compass point directly opposite to west

2

capitalized

a

: regions lying to the east of a specified or implied point of orientation

b

: regions having a culture derived from ancient non-European especially Asian areas

3

: the altar end of a church

4

often capitalized

a

: the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the east or at the right of a diagram

b

: a person (such as a bridge player) occupying this position in the course of a specified activity

Examples of east in a Sentence

Adjective

the east side of town

Noun

The city is framed by mountain ranges to the east and west.

The wind blew from the east.

This summer has been unusually hot in the East.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The tomb is located in Tell Umm-el Marra, an ancient city some 35 miles east of Aleppo. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024

Four other families will be evicted from the homes east of Bellingham in the following weeks, said Gabe Galanda, an Indigenous human rights lawyer who is representing the families facing eviction. —Christine Clarridge, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024

Adjective

That's the 56-story tower real estate broker and developer Kevin Burns is building in the Rainey Street District on downtown Austin's east side. —Shonda Novak, Austin American-Statesman, 26 Nov. 2024

The first will remain in effect for the northern, southern and east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Johnson and Bartlett mesas, including Raton Pass, through Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. local time. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

Noun

The parade route is east on Jackson Avenue from Centennial Beach, north on Webster Street and west on Van Buren Avenue to Eagle Street, said Rotary Club member Rich Tatara, the parade committee chairman. —Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 22 Nov. 2024

Further east, Russian forces broke through Ukraine’s Chernihiv and Sumy regions, and pushed rapidly toward Kyiv as well, in an attempt to surround the capital. —Katya Soldak, Forbes, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English est, from Old English ēast; akin to Old High German ōstar to the east, Latin aurora dawn, Greek ēōs, heōs

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing east

• back east
• down east
• east by north
• east by south
• east-northeast
• east-southeast
• north by east
• northeast by east
• south by east
• southeast by east
• the east

Kids Definition

east

1 of 3 adverb

ˈēst 

: to or toward the east

east

2 of 3 adjective

1

: located toward or at the east

the east door of the school

2

: coming from the east

an east wind

east

3 of 3 noun

1

a

: the general direction of sunrise

b

: the compass point directly opposite to west

2

capitalized : regions or countries east of a specific place