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 beach and surrounding suburb of the same name are a few miles east of Sydney in New South Wales. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025

The Goodwill store next door to the Dollar Tree and the Taco Bell just east did their usual Sunday business. —Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 14 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Most counties in south central and southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and east central and southeast Indiana will be under the watch. —David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Dec. 2025

The United States is also experiencing a La Niña winter this year, which means ocean surface temperatures are cooler than normal in the central and east-central Pacific Ocean. —Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 12 Dec. 2025

Noun

Russia has long rebuffed Ukraine’s public advocacy for NATO membership, arguing that the Western alliance, which is a defensive alliance, is moving too far east. —Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 15 Dec. 2025

The beach east of the Colorado River is open to vehicles, and the one to the west is only accessible by kayak or boat. —Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2025

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