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

Kenneth and Verna Phillips opened the Besi-Dream in early 1963 at the northwest corner of 8th and Walnut, just west of Rife Variety. —James F. Hales Remembering Rogers, arkansasonline.com, 31 Oct. 2024

Madison Local Schools serves students from prekindergarten through grade 12 in the rural area of Madison Township just west of Middletown. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 25 Oct. 2024

Adjective

The hurricane center said a westward to west-northwestward movement is forecast through Thursday and a slower northwest to north-northwest motion is expected by late Friday. —Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024

Entering the west garage and paying with a card provided an equally fast experience. —Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024

Noun

From City Hall, which was lit up in Dodger blue on Thursday night, the team will continue atop double-decker buses on a 45-minute route along 1st Street, turning south on Grand Avenue and then west on 5th Street, before finishing the parade at the intersection of 5th and Flower Street. —Jamie Barton, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024

For long-term problem solving, plant trees that will grow to shade the south and west sides of a house. —Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 2024

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

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