east

1 of 3

adverb

: 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
In the Selma area, as many as half of the structures in the town of about 740 people — less than four miles east of the Muncie city limits — had been damaged, according to an initial assessment. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Mar. 2024 The port bow railing of the Titanic is seen in 12,600 feet of water about 400 miles east of Nova Scotia, Canada, as photographed as part of a joint scientific and recovery expedition sponsored by the Discovery Channel and RMS Titanic. CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024 One of the oldest craft breweries east of Colorado, Bell's started with a 15-gallon soup pot in 1985. Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024 Coastal Charm in Abruzzo Photo: Getty Images Just two hours east of Rome lies Abruzzo— a rustic region with rich culinary traditions and natural splendor. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024 The first of the Beltway incidents occurred around 3:30 a.m. Sunday on the shoulder of the inner loop, east of exit 176. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Positioned along South Stelling Road just east of Highway 85, Jollyman Park is an 11.5 acre public space containing ball fields, two playgrounds and picnic areas. Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Skies turn overcast and rain is a good bet after midnight, especially east of Interstate 95. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 Several sources confirmed to the Herald that in addition to the 8 p.m. assault against the National Penitentiary, the prison east of the capital in Croix-des-Bouquets was also attacked around 11:30 p.m. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Stapleton, who, as a Democrat, from 2011 until 2013 represented District 4 on Detroit's east side with portions of Midtown, starts the job Friday. Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 About 23 rounds were fired into a house on Detroit’s east side around 4 a.m. Feb. 20, Assistant Chief Charles Fitzgerald of the Detroit Police Department said in a media briefing. Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2024 Air will be cooler and drier over east Central Florida, resulting in sunny skies, according to NWS Melbourne. Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2024 During her surprise visit to Robert Clack School in east London ahead of International Women’s Day in 2020, the debate squad gave the Duchess of Sussex, 41, the jacket. Erin Hill, Peoplemag, 10 Oct. 2023 While touring Robert Clack School in east London ahead of International Women’s Day in 2020, the debate squad gave the Duchess of Sussex, 42, the navy blue and white varsity letterman jacket. Stacy Lambe, Peoplemag, 11 Oct. 2023 But back in their working-royals days, Markle visited the Robert Clack School in the town of Dagenham in east London for a special International Women’s Day assembly, per People, where she was given a jacket with the school’s crest. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2023 Most recently, a coffee shop opened in the mill’s east end. Haeven Gibbons, Dallas News, 5 Sep. 2023 The species is endemic to east Asia and has been brought over to North America as an exotic species. Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 18 Oct. 2023
Noun
Zone two, east of North Commerce Street and south of Northwest Seventh Street, will become available for development after the city of Fort Worth expands a sewer main. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2024 The development is intended to replace the troubled United Medical Center and replace it with a robust network of primary and specialty care and critically labor and delivery services absent east of the river. Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Continue your journey east through Badlands National Park, home to a surreal landscape featuring otherworldly rock formations and plenty of scenic lookout points, all along a 39-mile loop. Giovanna Caravetta, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024 Though the number of agricultural lands dwindles by the year as development pushes east and longtime farming families tap out of the business, glimpses of old rural Florida can still be found in this part of town. Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 The bigger concern will be the wind, which could gust upwards of 50 mph on Saturday on Interstate 8, east of Alpine, all the way to the boundary of San Diego and Imperial counties. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 Katlyn Butler said the video was of cattle being released to escape the fires near the Turkey Track Ranch, east of Stinnett, NBC affiliate KAMR of Amarillo reported. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 The renovations are part of a $175 million effort to revitalize the block north of Market Street and east of Delaware Street with more than400 apartment units and additional office and retail space. The Indianapolis Star, 26 Feb. 2024 The same threat could carry on east into parts of the Southeast and Ohio Valley Wednesday. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'east.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of east was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near east

Cite this Entry

“East.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/east. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

east

1 of 3 adverb
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on east

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