top definitions
quizzes
related content
examples
explore dictionary
british

east

[ eest ]

/ ist /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR east ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a cardinal point of the compass, 90° to the right of north. Abbreviation: E

the direction in which this point lies.

(usually initial capital letter) a quarter or territory situated in this direction.

the East,

the parts of Asia collectively lying east of Europe and including Asia Minor, Syria, Arabia, India, China, etc.; the Orient.
the Far East.
(formerly) the Soviet Union and its allies.
the part of the U.S. east of the Mississippi River.
the part of the U.S. east of the Allegheny Mountains.
New England.
Ancient and Medieval History. the Eastern Roman Empire.

adjective

directed or proceeding toward the east.

coming from the east: an east wind.

lying toward or situated in the east: the east side.

Ecclesiastical. being at the end of the church where the high altar is: an east window.

adverb

to, toward, or in the east: an island located east of Sumatra; He went east.

VIDEO FOR EAST

WATCH NOW: Is There A Difference Between East Coast And West Coast Slang?

Is there a difference between east coast slang and west coast slang? The short answer: yes. Take a look.

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!

Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of east

before 900; Middle English est,Old English ēast; cognate with German ost,Old Norse austr; akin to Latin aurōra,Greek aúōs (dialectal variant of ēṓs, héōs) dawn. See Easter

OTHER WORDS FROM east

eastness, noun

Words nearby east

ease out, easier said than done, easily, easiness, Easley, east, East Africa, East African, East African Community, East African oryx, East Anglia

Definition for east (2 of 2)

East.

or east.

eastern.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for east

“Please, please do not permit this to happen here in Florida,” wrote Cris K. Smith of East Polk County.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Eventually, DeCrow and Seidenberg filed suit against the East Village mainstay.
The Bars That Made America Great|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That goodness steered him clear of the Sex Boys, the Crazy Homicides, the Sons of Nuns, and the other gangs of East New York.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Other communist countries that withdrew their films and delegates included East Germany, Cuba, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.
When Countries Lose Their Shit Over American Movies|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Hazard gang is a multi-generational gang based in the East Los Angeles area.
The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs|Seth Ferranti|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fired with ambition by these successes, he pressed boldly onward to reduce the cities and lands of the east.
The History of Antiquity, Vol. I (of VI)|Max Duncker
They come over to the East Coast in hordes in the autumn, mostly from Russia, where they also interbreed with the carrion crow.
Through East Anglia in a Motor Car|J. E. (James Edmund) Vincent
The country for five to ten miles to the east of our track appeared open and grassy, basalt being the prevailing rock.
Journals of Australian Explorations|A C and F T Gregory
This was the gate discovered by Bliss a little to the east of the old fortress on Maudsleys scarp.
Archology and the Bible|George A. Barton
The Triforium is unusually fine, and now extends over the north and south choir aisles, but not over the east end.
The Cathedrals of Great Britain|P. H. Ditchfield

British Dictionary definitions for east (1 of 2)

east

/ (iːst) /

noun

one of the four cardinal points of the compass, 90° clockwise from north and 180° from west

the direction along a parallel towards the sunrise, at 90° to north; the direction of the earth's rotation

the east (often capital) any area lying in or towards the eastRelated adjective: oriental

cards (usually capital) the player or position at the table corresponding to east on the compass

adjective

situated in, moving towards, or facing the east

(esp of the wind) from the east

adverb

in, to, or towards the east

archaic (of the wind) from the east

Symbol: E

Word Origin for east

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

British Dictionary definitions for east (2 of 2)

East

/ (iːst) /

noun the East

the continent of Asia regarded as culturally distinct from Europe and the West; the Orient

the countries under Communist rule and formerly under Communist rule, lying mainly in the E hemisphereCompare West (def. 2)

(in the US)

the area north of the Ohio and east of the Mississippi
the area north of Maryland and east of the Alleghenies

adjective

of or denoting the eastern part of a specified country, area, etc
(as part of a name)East Sussex

Derived forms of East

Eastern, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Get The Newest Slang 🔥 Sign Up Now