west

1 of 3

adverb

ˈwest 

: to, toward, or in the west

west

2 of 3

adjective

1

: situated toward or at the west

the west exit

2

: coming from the west

a west wind

west

3 of 3

noun

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

Adverb

In Rampart Village this week, two miles west of Huntley Drive, Barajas’ daughters stood beside each other, leaning against a beige wall of an apartment complex. —Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025

As Waukegan’s Memorial Day Parade moved west on Washington Street toward Veterans Memorial Plaza, the drum cadence from members of the Waukegan High School JROTC was unmistakable. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025

Adjective

So is the national park’s visitor center, the west entrance to a site that attracts 3 million visitors annually. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025

The 5-year-old had managed to open his stall and take a run through Elgin’s west side neighborhoods, surprising residents on Lin Lor Lane and Jane Drive, some of whom captured his wild ride on their cellphones. —Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025

Noun

There have been 409 measles cases confirmed in Gaines County, a rural area about an hour-and-a-half west of Lubbock. —Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

That was at a time when a new Nordstrom’s department store was still planned on a 3-acre parcel on the Plaza’s west edge — a deal that fell through in April 2022. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German westar to the west and probably to Latin vesper evening, Greek hesperos

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 west

• galley-west
• north by west
• northwest by west
• out west
• south by west
• southwest by west
• west by north
• west by south
• west-northwest
• west-southwest

Rhymes for west

• blessed
• blest
• breast
• chest
• crest
• dressed
• fest
• gest
• geste
• guessed
• jest
• lest

Kids Definition

west

1 of 3 adverb

ˈwest 

: to or toward the west

west

2 of 3 adjective

1

: situated toward or at the west

the west entrance

2

: coming from the west

a west wind

west

3 of 3 noun

1

: 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 1 of 4

biographical name (1)

ˈwest 

Benjamin 1738–1820 American painter

West

2 of 4

biographical name (2)

Nathanael 1903–1940 originally Nathan Wallenstein Weinstein American novelist

West

3 of 4

biographical name (3)

Dame Rebecca 1892–1983 pseudonym of Cicily Isabel Andrews née Fairfield English critic and novelist

West

4 of 4

biographical name (4)

Thomas see de la warr