1
: situated toward or at the east
an east window
2
: coming from the east
an east wind
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
Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
White was 27 years old when hikers found her body near Lake Mead National Recreation Area, around 10 miles east of Las Vegas, on August 27, 1994.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
The most recent was Hurricane Nicole in 2022, which struck Florida's east coast as a Category 1 storm.
—Tom Howarth
follow, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Doha Madani, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
North Korea launched seven short-range ballistic missiles into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula in a test on Monday evening ahead of the U.S. presidential election, according to The Associated Press.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for east 
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Adverb
Oakland’s airport is 12 miles east of San Francisco and just over 30 miles from San Francisco International Airport, whose airport code is SFO.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
White was 27 years old when hikers found her body near Lake Mead National Recreation Area, around 10 miles east of Las Vegas, on August 27, 1994.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
October homicides | Public safety news Man dies in shooting on North Dearborn Street
Nov. 1: Police received calls about shots being fired just after 7 p.m. in the 3600 block of North Dearborn Street on the city's east side.
—Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
The most recent was Hurricane Nicole in 2022, which struck Florida's east coast as a Category 1 storm.
—Tom Howarth
follow, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
Food and cosmetics company Givaudan said that the blast occurred at its Sense Colour factory, east of downtown, and that two of its team members were killed.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
North Korea launched seven short-range ballistic missiles into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula in a test on Monday evening ahead of the U.S. presidential election, according to The Associated Press.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for east
Dictionary Entries Near east
Cite this Entry
“East.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/east. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
east
1 of 3 adverb
: to or toward the east
east
2 of 3 adjective1
: located toward or at the east
the east door of the school
2
: coming from the east
an east wind
east
3 of 3 noun1
a
: the general direction of sunrise
b
: the compass point directly opposite to west
2
capitalized
: regions or countries east of a specific place
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