eastern

American  

[ee-stern] / ˈi stərn /

adjective

1. lying toward or situated in the east.

   the eastern half of the island.

2. directed or proceeding toward the east.

   an eastern route.

3. coming from the east.

   an eastern wind.

4. (often initial capital letter) of or relating to the East in the U.S..

   an eastern congressman.

5. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the Eastern Church or to any of the churches comprising it.

6. (usually initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of the East; Oriental.

7. (usually initial capital letter) (formerly) of or relating to the Soviet Union and its allies.

---

eastern British  

/ ˈiːstən /

adjective

1. situated in or towards the east

2. facing or moving towards the east

---

Other Word Forms

• noneastern adjective
• pro-Eastern adjective
• uneastern adjective

Etymology

Origin of eastern

before 1000; Middle English esterne, Old English ēasterne; akin to Old Norse austroenn, Old High German ōstrōni. See east , -ern

Example Sentences

European allies were turning to the U.S. for information on their eastern neighbor, along with pleas for the prisoners they hoped to free.

From The Wall Street Journal

Separately on Monday, the US military said it carried out a strike on what it said was a suspected trafficking vessel in international waters in the eastern Pacific.

From BBC

Parts of eastern Scotland also entered "significant water scarcity", according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

From BBC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed scepticism over whether Russia really wants to end the war, which has killed tens of thousands and decimated eastern and southern Ukraine.

From Barron's

The US military since September has also conducted a series of air strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

From Barron's