easterly

1 of 2

adjective or adverb

east·​er·​ly ˈē-stər-lē 

1

: situated toward or belonging to the east

the easterly shore of the lake

2

: coming from the east

an easterly storm

easterly

2 of 2

noun

plural easterlies

: a wind from the east

Examples of easterly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective or adverb

It was driven by strong easterly Santa Ana winds of 30 to 40 mph. —Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026

The Bay Area Air District said Wednesday that a high-pressure system over the region is keeping air pollution trapped near the ground, and easterly winds could also bring in pollution from the Central Valley. —Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026

Noun

Combine the rain with a chilly easterly wind at 10 to 15 mph, and the day looks rather raw and unsettled. —Steven Sosna, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

While mostly unsuitable for swimming, this more dramatic side of the island is worth appreciating, especially from scenic viewpoints in Gorda Peak National Park and the hiking trails that crisscross the island's most easterly points. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective or adverb

obsolete easter eastern

First Known Use

Adjective Or Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for easterly

• northeasterly
• southeasterly

Kids Definition

easterly

adverb or adjective

east·​er·​ly

ˈē-stər-lē

1

: toward the east

they sailed easterly

2

: from the east

an easterly storm