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 pair of vehicles drove west on the roadway, made a U-turn and went back east to the other side of the bridge. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026

The abbot of Wat Saman Rattanaram in Chachoengsao province, about 50 miles east of Bangkok, warned that cremation services may have to be suspended. —Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 22 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Had your family come here from a European hometown that was east or west of the Elbe river? —Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026

The preserve includes a 4,200-square-foot lodge , multiple guest accommodations and a private collection of animals — east African plains zebras, 75-year-old sulcata tortoises, African Watusi cattle, ostriches and more — that are available to transfer with the sale. —David Caraccio march 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Mar. 2026

Noun

After a milder Sunday, Monday continues the trend with an area of high pressure to our east, a system way out to our west, and strong southwest winds that will help to warm us up. —Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026

The national monument is located on two parcels of national forest land, one in the historic Camp Hale area west of Copper Mountain and south of Vail Pass, the other on either side of the Tenmile Range east of Copper Mountain. —John Meyer, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 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