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

OpenAI's flagship site for the $500 billion Stargate program opened in Abilene, a city about 180 miles west of Dallas. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025

It is also meant to provide pedestrian connections to the project’s two public parks, directing people west to a resident-centric park called The Green or leading them east to an arena-adjacent park and plaza space called The Square. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025

Adjective

Built in 2023, the four-bedroom house is located in the Charlotte Park neighborhood on the city's west side. —Molly Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025

Florida International University was also trying to convince the president to place the library on its west Miami-Dade campus earlier this year. —Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025

Noun

Police tracked Travis Decker's truck and learned the vehicle had traveled west on Highway 2 from Wenatchee on May 30. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025

But fate called her west, and by her mid-20s, the young educator packed up her husband and son and headed to San Diego. —Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 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