east

1 of 3

adverb

: 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
In the Selma area, as many as half of the structures in the town of about 740 people — less than four miles east of the Muncie city limits — had been damaged, according to an initial assessment. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Mar. 2024 The port bow railing of the Titanic is seen in 12,600 feet of water about 400 miles east of Nova Scotia, Canada, as photographed as part of a joint scientific and recovery expedition sponsored by the Discovery Channel and RMS Titanic. CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024 One of the oldest craft breweries east of Colorado, Bell's started with a 15-gallon soup pot in 1985. Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024 Coastal Charm in Abruzzo Photo: Getty Images Just two hours east of Rome lies Abruzzo— a rustic region with rich culinary traditions and natural splendor. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024 The first of the Beltway incidents occurred around 3:30 a.m. Sunday on the shoulder of the inner loop, east of exit 176. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Positioned along South Stelling Road just east of Highway 85, Jollyman Park is an 11.5 acre public space containing ball fields, two playgrounds and picnic areas. Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Skies turn overcast and rain is a good bet after midnight, especially east of Interstate 95. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 Several sources confirmed to the Herald that in addition to the 8 p.m. assault against the National Penitentiary, the prison east of the capital in Croix-des-Bouquets was also attacked around 11:30 p.m. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The clinician response team operates on a 24/7 schedule downtown and in east Indianapolis. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Feb. 2024 First responders are on the scene of a house explosion on Detroit's east side that left three children injured. Detroit Free Press, 27 Feb. 2024 Stapleton, who, as a Democrat, from 2011 until 2013 represented District 4 on Detroit's east side with portions of Midtown, starts the job Friday. Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 About 23 rounds were fired into a house on Detroit’s east side around 4 a.m. Feb. 20, Assistant Chief Charles Fitzgerald of the Detroit Police Department said in a media briefing. Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2024 Air will be cooler and drier over east Central Florida, resulting in sunny skies, according to NWS Melbourne. Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2024 During her surprise visit to Robert Clack School in east London ahead of International Women’s Day in 2020, the debate squad gave the Duchess of Sussex, 41, the jacket. Erin Hill, Peoplemag, 10 Oct. 2023 While touring Robert Clack School in east London ahead of International Women’s Day in 2020, the debate squad gave the Duchess of Sussex, 42, the navy blue and white varsity letterman jacket. Stacy Lambe, Peoplemag, 11 Oct. 2023 But back in their working-royals days, Markle visited the Robert Clack School in the town of Dagenham in east London for a special International Women’s Day assembly, per People, where she was given a jacket with the school’s crest. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2023
Noun
Another isolated thunderstorm that developed east of Apache Junction midday was also moving south and was expected to bring small hail, locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds to the lower east Valley. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2024 Records show the professional gamer, and longtime Twitch and YouTube streamer, is asking $2.4 million for the home, which is sited in the suburban city of Diamond Bar, about an hour’s drive east of Los Angeles. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 Where are Randolph County and Delaware County, Indiana? Randolph County, east of Muncie, is in Central Indiana and borders western Ohio. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Mar. 2024 This location of Karma Records, situated east of downtown Indianapolis since 1975, is arguably the flagship of a once-great empire. Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 14 Mar. 2024 The city’s distressed east and west ends remained more dangerous terrain, particularly at night, but violent crime rates were nowhere near the highs of the 1980s and ’90s. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Damaging winds, hail and tornadoes possible Tens of millions of people are at risk for severe thunderstorms on Thursday as the system tracks east and expands its reach across more than 1,000 miles of the US. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 Zone two, east of North Commerce Street and south of Northwest Seventh Street, will become available for development after the city of Fort Worth expands a sewer main. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2024 The development is intended to replace the troubled United Medical Center and replace it with a robust network of primary and specialty care and critically labor and delivery services absent east of the river. Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'east.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of east was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near east

Cite this Entry

“East.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/east. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

east

1 of 3 adverb
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on east

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