eastern

adjective

east·​ern ˈē-stərn 

1

Eastern : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated East

2

Eastern

a

: of, relating to, or being the Christian churches originating in the church of the Eastern Roman Empire

b

: eastern orthodox

3

a

: lying toward the east

b

: coming from the east

an eastern wind

Examples of eastern in a Sentence

They live in the eastern part of the state.

the eastern shore of the river

Recent Examples on the Web

Ukrainian forces have in recent months pushed Russia's army back at points along the roughly 750-mile front line in eastern areas of the country, according to the Institute for the Study of War. —Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026

There was an appetizer of crab from Nemuro, on the island's eastern edge, and a perfectly roasted fillet of beef from just down the coast in Tokachi. —Alex Halberstadt, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026

Russian troops have moved only about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) into eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region in the past two years. —Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026

The confirmation of the Khlong Hat bent-toed gecko underscores the ecological richness of eastern Thailand’s karst landscapes and highlights how much remains to be discovered even in areas already recognized as biodiversity hotspots. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English estern, from Old English ēasterne; akin to Old High German ōstrōni eastern, Old English ēast east

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing eastern

• eastern bluebird
• eastern equine encephalitis
• eastern equine encephalomyelitis
• eastern hemisphere
• eastern rat snake
• eastern time
• eastern white pine

Rhymes for eastern

• northeastern
• southeastern

Kids Definition

eastern

adjective

east·​ern ˈē-stərn 

1

capitalized : of, relating to, or like that of the East

Eastern religion

2

: lying toward or coming from the east

easternmost

-ˌmōst 

adjective