eastern

adjective

east·​ern ˈē-stərn 

1

capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated East

2

capitalized

a

: of, relating to, or being the Christian churches originating in the church of the Eastern Roman Empire

b

: eastern orthodox

3

a

: lying toward the east

b

: coming from the east

an eastern wind

Examples of eastern in a Sentence

They live in the eastern part of the state.

the eastern shore of the river

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to major Hurricane Erin, the National Hurricane Center is watching a potential tropical disturbance in the eastern Atlantic. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025

Russian forces continue to pound Ukraine with offensive operations on the ground in eastern Ukraine, and with nightly drone and missile strikes across the country. —Greg Myre, NPR, 17 Aug. 2025

Some gradual development of this system is possible during the middle to latter portion of the week while the system moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025

Officials with McDonald’s USA have filed a request for a special use permit to open a second eastern Lincoln County Mickey D’s near the lake. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English estern, from Old English ēasterne; akin to Old High German ōstrōni eastern, Old English ēast east

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing eastern

• eastern bluebird
• eastern equine encephalitis
• eastern equine encephalomyelitis
• eastern hemisphere
• eastern rat snake
• eastern time
• eastern white pine

Rhymes for eastern

• northeastern
• southeastern

Kids Definition

eastern

adjective

east·​ern ˈē-stərn 

1

capitalized : of, relating to, or like that of the East

Eastern religion

2

: lying toward or coming from the east

easternmost

-ˌmōst 

adjective