west

1 of 3

adverb

ˈwest 

: to, toward, or in the west

west

2 of 3

adjective

1

: situated toward or at the west

the west exit

2

: coming from the west

a west wind

west

3 of 3

noun

1

a

: the general direction of sunset : the direction to the left of one facing north

b

: the compass point directly opposite to east

2

West

a

: regions or countries lying to the west of a specified or implied point of orientation

b

: the noncommunist countries of Europe and America

3

: the end of a church opposite the chancel

4

often West

a

: the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the west or at the left of a diagram

b

: a person (such as a bridge player) occupying this position during a specified activity

Examples of west in a Sentence

Adverb

They drove west after they got off the highway.

They live just west of here.

Adjective

cities on the west coast

Noun

There's a beautiful pond to the west of the trail.

We will be traveling into the city from the west.

If that way is east, then this way is west.

Floods have caused extensive damage in the West.

Come explore the natural wonders of the American West.

policies foreign to the West

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Six years after the West Texas grill, pub and pizzeria left a west Fort Worth location, a new Cork & Pig has opened in the shops at the District at Willow Park about 15 minutes west of Loop 820. — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026

Saturday, Franks was driving his Honda Ridgeline truck west on I-435 in Leawood, according to a highway patrol incident report. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026

Adjective

California’s state Capitol was evacuated Friday morning after construction crews in the west wing of the building reported a threat to authorities, according to the California Highway Patrol. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Folsom’s 5th District covers part of west-central Folsom, including residential neighborhoods east of East Bidwell Street and south of Blue Ravine Road. — Haley Parsley october 2, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Noun

In 2024, Batavia and Aurora staff met, per the memo, and Aurora staff provided a drawing showing a reconfiguration of the intersection of Wagner and Mesa that would provide limited access once Mesa Drive was extended to the west. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

For this new chapter in Britain, the son of King Charles III and his family have made their home in the Cotswolds, an idyllic region west of London that is popular with celebrities and the otherwise well-to-do. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German westar to the west and probably to Latin vesper evening, Greek hesperos

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 west

• galley-west
• north by west
• northwest by west
• out west
• south by west
• southwest by west
• west by north
• west by south
• west-northwest
• west-southwest
• wild west

Rhymes for west

• blessed
• blest
• breast
• chest
• crest
• dressed
• fest
• gest
• geste
• guessed
• jest
• lest

Kids Definition

west

1 of 3 adverb

ˈwest 

: to or toward the west

west

2 of 3 adjective

1

: situated toward or at the west

the west entrance

2

: coming from the west

a west wind

west

3 of 3 noun

1

: the direction of sunset : the compass point opposite to east

2

capitalized

a

: regions or countries west of a point that is mentioned or understood

b

: the countries of Europe and the Americas that are not communist

Biographical Definition

West 1 of 4

biographical name (1)

ˈwest 

Benjamin 1738–1820 American painter

West

2 of 4

biographical name (2)

Nathanael 1903–1940 originally Nathan Wallenstein Weinstein American novelist

West

3 of 4

biographical name (3)

Dame Rebecca 1892–1983 pseudonym of Cicily Isabel Andrews née Fairfield English critic and novelist

West

4 of 4

biographical name (4)

Thomas see de la warr