1
: situated toward or at the west
the west exit
2
: coming from the west
a west wind
1
a
: the general direction of sunset : the direction to the left of one facing north
b
: the compass point directly opposite to east
2
capitalized
a
: regions or countries lying to the west of a specified or implied point of orientation
b
: the noncommunist countries of Europe and America
3
: the end of a church opposite the chancel
4
often capitalized
a
: the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the west or at the left of a diagram
b
: a person (such as a bridge player) occupying this position during a specified activity
Examples of west in a Sentence
Adverb
They drove west after they got off the highway.
They live just west of here.
Adjective
cities on the west coast
Noun
There's a beautiful pond to the west of the trail.
We will be traveling into the city from the west.
If that way is east, then this way is west.
Floods have caused extensive damage in the West.
Come explore the natural wonders of the American West.
policies foreign to the West
Recent Examples on the Web
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2024
North and Central Peloponnese Take the road west of Athens, up the Saronic Gulf coastline for about an hour to reach the Peloponnese.
—Annie B. Shapero, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2024
At a psychiatric hospital in Macclenny, about 35 miles west of Jacksonville, two men involuntarily committed to the facility died after being assaulted by other residents who had faced felony charges for violence.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024
An area west of Kansas City, including Wichita, Salina and Hutchison in Kansas, Enid, Oklahoma and Hastings, Nebraska, is at a 30 percent risk of severe weather.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2024
While the 2023-24 recruiting cycle wasn’t great for quarterback prospects out west, here is a mock draft of 10 players who signed with the outbound Pac-12 schools and where they may get drafted.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 2 May 2024
Mount Horeb is a small village located about 23 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin's capital city.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 2 May 2024
More than 500 miles west, in Iowa City, Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a vulnerable Republican who won her district by six votes in 2020, had a similar experience.
—Robert Jimison, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2024
When he was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays last week, Mitch White packed up his things, headed west and tried to manifest destiny.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024
Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 8 May 2024
Where will the new Phoenix airport terminal be built?
Sky Harbor intends to develop the new terminal on the west side of the airport, near where the former Terminal 1, closed in 1990, and Terminal 2, closed in 2020, were located.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024
Stairs are required for access to the west entrance of the facility.
—Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 6 May 2024
The route then goes west on Third Street and north along the west side of downtown Cincinnati.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 May 2024
In September, the Star Police Department responded to a field off the west side of Idaho Highway 16 where 41-year-old Chris Huffman — who was reportedly suicidal — was waving around a handgun, police said.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 1 May 2024
On the west side of the city, the store is relatively close to Interstate 94 on and off ramps and less than a block away from the West Allis city limits.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
Coyote Valley This easy, out-and-back trail is located on the west side of the park, near Grand Lake and Granby.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024
There’s Senegal and Mali and other west African countries.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Kate Cimini, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024
The procession is scheduled to leave Bennett Funeral Home in Newton at 4:30 p.m. and travel west on U.S. 70 from Conover to the college.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2024
The Indian Removal Act in 1830 eventually drove all tribes in the region west of the Mississippi, including the Potawatomi.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2024
According to the Wilmington office, tornadic damage began west of Greenville, went through the city and continued to the east.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 8 May 2024
Two toddlers have died after they were found unconscious in a backyard pool in a west Phoenix home Thursday.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
Locating the Cicadas Brood XIX will emerge mainly in the southeast and midwest, ranging from Washington D.C. in the east to Missouri in the west.
—Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2024
The small fish seem to be concentrated near the Farallon Islands west of San Francisco.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2024
On Michigan’s west side, Electric Forest will kick into action June 20-23, presenting another sprawling lineup of electronic artists and jam bands, with headliners to include Pretty Lights, String Cheese Incident, Disco Biscuits, Charlotte de Witte and more.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 5 May 2024
Adverb
The three basic tactics are: replenishing sand on the beaches, adding and expanding rock revetments west of the tracks, and installing barrier-like catchment walls east of the tracks where they are threatened by landslides.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2024
North and Central Peloponnese Take the road west of Athens, up the Saronic Gulf coastline for about an hour to reach the Peloponnese.
—Annie B. Shapero, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2024
At a psychiatric hospital in Macclenny, about 35 miles west of Jacksonville, two men involuntarily committed to the facility died after being assaulted by other residents who had faced felony charges for violence.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024
An area west of Kansas City, including Wichita, Salina and Hutchison in Kansas, Enid, Oklahoma and Hastings, Nebraska, is at a 30 percent risk of severe weather.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2024
While the 2023-24 recruiting cycle wasn’t great for quarterback prospects out west, here is a mock draft of 10 players who signed with the outbound Pac-12 schools and where they may get drafted.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 2 May 2024
Mount Horeb is a small village located about 23 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin's capital city.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 2 May 2024
More than 500 miles west, in Iowa City, Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a vulnerable Republican who won her district by six votes in 2020, had a similar experience.
—Robert Jimison, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2024
When he was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays last week, Mitch White packed up his things, headed west and tried to manifest destiny.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Multiple tornadoes swept through the west side of the state Tuesday, touching down in Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties.
—Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 8 May 2024
Where will the new Phoenix airport terminal be built?
Sky Harbor intends to develop the new terminal on the west side of the airport, near where the former Terminal 1, closed in 1990, and Terminal 2, closed in 2020, were located.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024
Stairs are required for access to the west entrance of the facility.
—Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 6 May 2024
The route then goes west on Third Street and north along the west side of downtown Cincinnati.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 May 2024
In September, the Star Police Department responded to a field off the west side of Idaho Highway 16 where 41-year-old Chris Huffman — who was reportedly suicidal — was waving around a handgun, police said.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 1 May 2024
On the west side of the city, the store is relatively close to Interstate 94 on and off ramps and less than a block away from the West Allis city limits.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
Coyote Valley This easy, out-and-back trail is located on the west side of the park, near Grand Lake and Granby.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024
There’s Senegal and Mali and other west African countries.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
In conservative Collier County, two hours due west of Miami and subject to similar temperatures, Commissioner Bill McDaniel wondered at why the law got rid of home rule on a subject that just one county in Florida had passed restrictions on.
—Kate Cimini, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024
The procession is scheduled to leave Bennett Funeral Home in Newton at 4:30 p.m. and travel west on U.S. 70 from Conover to the college.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2024
The Indian Removal Act in 1830 eventually drove all tribes in the region west of the Mississippi, including the Potawatomi.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2024
According to the Wilmington office, tornadic damage began west of Greenville, went through the city and continued to the east.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 8 May 2024
Two toddlers have died after they were found unconscious in a backyard pool in a west Phoenix home Thursday.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
Locating the Cicadas Brood XIX will emerge mainly in the southeast and midwest, ranging from Washington D.C. in the east to Missouri in the west.
—Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2024
The small fish seem to be concentrated near the Farallon Islands west of San Francisco.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2024
On Michigan’s west side, Electric Forest will kick into action June 20-23, presenting another sprawling lineup of electronic artists and jam bands, with headliners to include Pretty Lights, String Cheese Incident, Disco Biscuits, Charlotte de Witte and more.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 5 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'west.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near west
Cite this Entry
“West.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/west. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
west
1 of 3 adverb
: to or toward the west
west
2 of 3 adjective1
: situated toward or at the west
the west entrance
2
: coming from the west
a west wind
west
3 of 3 noun1
: the direction of sunset : the compass point opposite to east
2
capitalized
a
: regions or countries west of a point that is mentioned or understood
b
: the countries of Europe and the Americas that are not communist
Biographical Definition
West
2 of 4biographical name (2)
Nathanael 1903–1940 originally Nathan Wallenstein Weinstein American novelist
West
3 of 4biographical name (3)
Dame Rebecca 1892–1983 pseudonym of Cicily Isabel Andrews née Fairfield English critic and novelist
West
4 of 4biographical name (4)
Thomas see de la warr
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