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

capitalized

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 capitalized

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

Two to 6 inches of rain could fall in coastal areas and two to 4 inches just east and southeast of Charlotte, Chantal rain maps by the hurricane center showed. —Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2025

The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her July Fourth show at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland — five miles east of Washington, D.C. —Caché McClay, USA Today, 6 July 2025

Adjective

Police believe the shooting took place in the 2500 block of Producers Lane, on the city's east side. —Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 7 July 2025

The 130,000-square-foot complex is taking shape in Chandler Park on the city's east side. —Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 3 July 2025

Noun

There is a larger economy lot just east of Aviation Drive, with roughly 6,000 spots available. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado july 8, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2025

Conyers is about a 25-mile drive east from downtown Atlanta. —Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 7 July 2025

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