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

The North Star homes will stand just east of Klamm Park. —Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2025

Yet just east of the busy Grand Canyon Village lies a stretch of road with equally jaw-dropping vistas and far fewer crowds. —Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025

Adjective

The band members credit their love for music for saving them from connecting with the wrong crowd in the '90s, when gang violence was at its peak on the city's east side, which was a popular destination for immigrants. —NPR, 14 Oct. 2025

In an effort to alleviate overcrowding at one of Jefferson County's newest schools, leaders are planning to change the attendance zones for some middle schoolers in east Louisville. —Krista Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Oct. 2025

Noun

Large glass facades on the south and east sides of the building open the interiors to an inner garden, while the north and west facades recall industrial rigor through framed concrete openings. —Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025

As if this weren’t enough reason to look up, Comet SWAN will make its own cameo further east, and if weather permits, the northern lights could ripple across high-latitude skies, painting them with ribbons of green and pink. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 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