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

As the low moves east, snowfall expands into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest from South Dakota to northwest Illinois, with 4 to 6 inches likely and locally higher totals. —CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025

The system, known as a Pineapple Express, is coming from Hawaii moving east to hit the Evergreen State as well as parts of Oregon. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Heady was a longtime employee of Josephine's and a member of the Irvington community, an east side neighborhood where residents embrace its history and each other. —Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 6 Dec. 2025

The Milwaukee Fire Department made dozens of residents evacuate a three-story apartment building on the city's east side due to the possibility of structural damage. —Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 4 Dec. 2025

Noun

Perhaps the most arduous element was the journey itself, up to this outpost in north-east England. —Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025

Floodwaters breached the dam at the Mavil Aru Reservoir in the island’s east, forcing 2,000 people to higher ground and airlifts of over 120 residents by the air force. —MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025

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