east

¹

[ eest ]

noun

1. a cardinal point of the compass, 90° to the right of north. : E
2. the direction in which this point lies.
3. (usually initial capital letter) a quarter or territory situated in this direction.
4. the East,
   1. the parts of Asia collectively lying east of Europe and including Asia Minor, Syria, Arabia, India, China, etc.
   2. East Asia.
   3. (formerly) the Soviet Union and its allies.
   4. the part of the U.S. east of the Mississippi River.
   5. the part of the U.S. east of the Allegheny Mountains.
   6. New England.
   7. Ancient and Medieval History. the Eastern Roman Empire.

adjective

1. directed or proceeding toward the east.
2. coming from the east:

   an east wind.

3. lying toward or situated in the east:

   the east side.

4. Ecclesiastical. being at the end of the church where the high altar is:

   an east window.

adverb

1. to, toward, or in the east:

   an island located east of Sumatra; He went east.

East.

²

or east.

abbreviation for

1. eastern.

east

¹

/ iːst /

noun

1. one of the four cardinal points of the compass, 90° clockwise from north and 180° from west
2. the direction along a parallel towards the sunrise, at 90° to north; the direction of the earth's rotation
3. the east
   often capital any area lying in or towards the east oriental
4. cards usually capital the player or position at the table corresponding to east on the compass

adjective

1. situated in, moving towards, or facing the east
2. (esp of the wind) from the east

adverb

1. in, to, or towards the east
2. archaic.
   (of the wind) from the east

East

²

/ iːst /

noun

1. the continent of Asia regarded as culturally distinct from Europe and the West; the Orient
2. the countries under Communist rule and formerly under Communist rule, lying mainly in the E hemisphere Compare West
3. in the US
   1. the area north of the Ohio and east of the Mississippi
   2. the area north of Maryland and east of the Alleghenies

adjective

1. 1. of or denoting the eastern part of a specified country, area, etc
   2. ( as part of a name )

      East Sussex

Derived Forms

• ˈEastern, adjective

Other Words From

• eastness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of east¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English est, Old English ēast; cognate with German ost, Old Norse austr; akin to Latin aurōra, Greek aúōs (Aeolic dialect variant of ēṓs, héōs ) “dawn”; Easter

Word History and Origins

Origin of east¹

Old English ēast; related to Old High German ōstar to the east, Old Norse austr, Latin aurora dawn, Greek eōs, Sanskrit usās dawn, morning

Example Sentences

The approval from Washington is seen as an attempt to slow down Russian troops, who have been steadily advancing into Ukraine's east in recent months.

From BBC

Northamptonshire Police have released an image of Mr Lamba in east London, which officers believe was taken after he abandoned his wife's body in the car.

From BBC

Ukraine’s forces defending the city have so far repelled attacks to the south and east.

From BBC

Bawumia has been traversing north, south, east and west in what he calls the "possibilities bus", a blue and red campaign vehicle emblazoned with the slogan "it is possible".

From BBC

Head received one bullet in the stomach early that evening and was airlifted to a hospital in Tyler, Texas, about 100 miles east of Dallas and about a three-hour drive from his rural Texas ranch.

From Los Angeles Times