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

East

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 East

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 neighborhood This is downtown Warsaw, home to the chic boutiques, concept stores and galleries rather than the big designer stores which can be found a few streets further east on Nowy Swiat. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

The fire danger has now shifted further east across the Intermountain West and Plains where several states from Montana to Nebraska are under Red Flag Warnings due to strong winds and low humidity. — Melissa Griffin, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The project will be the first time gas from east Mediterranean deposits is supplied to European markets. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

The current north division stretches from Mountain Island Lake on the west side to West Sugar Creek Road on its east side. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Aug. 2026

Noun

Nizhnekamsk is roughly 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) east of the Ukrainian border and has a population of about 240,000. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

By August 15, Venus reaches greatest elongation east — its widest apparent separation from the sun. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

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