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.

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eastern British  

/ ˈiːstən /

adjective

1. situated in or towards the east

2. facing or moving towards the east

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pro-Eastern
  adjective
• uneastern
  adjective
• noneastern
  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

"It is increasingly becoming a direct threat to countries on our Eastern border," she wrote on X.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

They overturned a 22-point deficit in the opener of Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

“As bauxite and alumina stockpiles dwindle, more Middle Eastern aluminum supply is expected to be curtailed,” Dhar says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

Eastern time, when the Spurs host the Knicks in San Antonio for Game 1.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

The level of fear rose higher when Americans saw how Nikita Khrushchev responded to a freedom movement in Hungary, one of the Eastern European countries controlled by the Soviet Union.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin