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

capitalized

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 capitalized

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

Explore our new section There are now four cetacean species living in or regularly visiting the busy waters east of the Golden Gate — harbor porpoises, gray whales, humpback whales and bottle-nosed dolphins. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2024

Located in downtown Highlands, one of the towns with the highest elevation east of the Missipppi River, the property is surrounded by lush forest views. —Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2024

Adjective

Visitors traveling from outer islands can fly into either Kona or Hilo International Airport (ITO) in Hilo on the island's east side. —Kait Hanson, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2024

The post encouraged people to visit its east side, Wauwatosa and Mequon locations. —Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 11 July 2024

Noun

Thus, the borough has a major river that comes from inland—the Hudson—to its west, and salt water on its east. —Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024

The Cow Valley Fire lies south of the Malheur Reservoir, east of Brogan and Jamieson, and north of Bully Creek Reservoir. —Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 15 July 2024

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

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