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

East

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 East

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 earthquake's epicenter was situated about 10 miles east of Walker Lake and occurred at a depth of 4 miles. —Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Jan. 2026

These deer are nighttime foragers who might live in the Sauk Trail Woods Forest Preserve east of Western Avenue. —Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Two that were reported Tuesday morning on Detroit's east side are at the intersections of Laing and Grayton streets and of State Fair Avenue and Dequindre Road. —Gino Vicci, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

Years ago, Kaplan and Sukop lived on Ganesha Avenue in east Altadena, where Kaplan lovingly tended a garden of show roses that had been planted by the previous tenant, a recording secretary for the local rosarian society. —Erica Zora Wrightson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026

Noun

South- or east-facing windows typically receive the most light and may be the best location for light-hungry plants. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026

When the two segments connect, the trail will be roughly a mile long and run east-west from the transportation center to Independence Park. —Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026

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

Rhymes for east

• beast
• ceased
• creased
• feast
• fleeced
• geest
• greased
• leased
• least
• pieced
• priest
• yeast

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