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

capitalized

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 capitalized

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

Celina, about 50 minutes west of Princeton and an hour north of Dallas, clocked an 18.2% population jump last year. —Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2025

Punk roared out of London and New York in 1976 before making its way out west not too long after. —Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025

Adjective

On the west side of the Keller school district, the average home value is around $370,000. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2025

Late last year, Ark Restaurants, which owns the popular Bryant Park Grill, lost a contest to lease the space on the west side of the main branch of the New York Public Library between 42nd and 40th Streets. —Yuvraj Khanna, New York Times, 16 May 2025

Noun

At this time of year, as the last of the bright patterns of winter decline in the west, the milder stars of spring have ascended to dominate our southern and eastern skies. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 May 2025

An unidentified vehicle was traveling west on W. Holden Road of S. Orange Blossom Trail on the inside lane. —Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025

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

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