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

Swalwell, who is originally from Iowa, was first elected to Congress in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. —ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026

Swalwell, who is originally from Iowa, was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. —Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026

Adjective

The military has established control over the north, east and central regions, including Sudan’s Red Sea ports and its oil refineries and pipelines. —ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026

The electricity went out at New Terrain Brewing Company in east Golden for about 36 hours, was on for a few hours and blinked out again for hours. —Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026

Noun

Based out of Fort Lauderdale, Brown travels east to west every week in his 18-wheeler, often driving up to 11-hour shifts and eating in his vehicle to stay on schedule. —David Williams, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026

As Canis Major journeys across the sky from east to west in response to Earth’s rotation, the big doggy appears to be begging from his master. —Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 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