easterly

1 of 2

adjective or adverb

east·​er·​ly ˈē-stər-lē 

1

: situated toward or belonging to the east

the easterly shore of the lake

2

: coming from the east

an easterly storm

easterly

2 of 2

noun

plural easterlies

: a wind from the east

Examples of easterly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective or adverb

In this case, the oil had helped to pick out several bright arc which are the result of easterly winds—a common phenomenon, NASA explains, at the time of year the image was taken. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025

The majority of tropical cyclones develop out of tropical waves, which also are called easterly waves, according to NOAA. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 28 May 2025

Noun

Positive values show winds from the west, whereas negative values indicate easterlies. —Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024

There are three jet streams that are thought to affect the Indian summer monsoon – the subtropical westerly, the tropical easterly, and the Somali or cross-equatorial jet stream. —Anusha Krishnan, Quartz, 30 May 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective or adverb

obsolete easter eastern

First Known Use

Adjective Or Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for easterly

• northeasterly
• southeasterly

Kids Definition

easterly

adverb or adjective

east·​er·​ly

ˈē-stər-lē

1

: toward the east

they sailed easterly

2

: from the east

an easterly storm