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

Another master’s artistry is on display and open to tours at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, located about two miles east of the museum on the other side of the park. —David Allan, CNN Money, 31 May 2025

Evacuation are extending as far north as the county border to the north and up to 7 miles east of the fire. —James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025

Adjective

Air quality alerts were issued in central, east central and northeast Wisconsin. —Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025

The blazes, known collectively as the Brimson Complex Fires, have charred more than 28,000 acres in east central St. Louis County and neighboring portions of Lake County. —Duluth News Tribune, Twin Cities, 27 May 2025

Noun

Both have been comfortably raised in turn-of-the-last-century Duluth, then sent east for fine Ivy League educations. —Alida Becker, New York Times, 30 May 2025

The trooper turned around and flipped on his lights and siren, but the BMW driver continued east and allegedly began accelerating, the warrant affidavit said. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 May 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