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west

[ west ]

/ wɛst /

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noun

a cardinal point of the compass, 90° to the left when facing north, corresponding to the point where the sun is seen to set. Abbreviation: W

the direction in which this point lies.

(usually initial capital letter) a region or territory situated in this direction, especially the western part of the U.S., as distinguished from the East: a vacation trip through the West.

(initial capital letter) the western part of the world, as distinguished from the East or Orient; the Occident.

(initial capital letter) the non-Communist countries of Western Europe and the Americas.

adjective

directed or proceeding toward the west.

coming from the west: a west wind.

lying toward or situated in the west.

Ecclesiastical. designating, lying toward, or in that part of a church opposite to and farthest from the altar.

adverb

to, toward, or in the west: The car headed west.

from the west: The wind blew west.

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QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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Idioms for west

go west, Informal. to die.

Origin of west

before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch, German west,Old Norse vestr; compare French ouest,Old French <Old English

Words nearby west

Wesleyan Methodist, Wesley, John, Wessex, Wessex culture, Wessi, west, West Allis, Westar, West Atlantic, West Babylon, West Bank

Definition for west (2 of 3)

West

[ west ]

/ wɛst /

noun

Benjamin, 1738–1820, U.S. painter, in England after 1763.

Jerome Alan "Jerry", born 1938, U.S. basketball player, coach, and executive.

Mae, 1893–1980, U.S. actress.

Nathanael Nathan Wallenstein Weinstein, 1902?–40, U.S. novelist.

Paul, 1930–2015, U.S. poet, essayist, and novelist, born in England.

Dame Rebecca Cicily Isabel Fairfield Andrews, 1892–1983, English novelist, journalist, and critic, born in Ireland.

Definition for west (3 of 3)

West.

or west.

abbreviation

western.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for west

For now, though, the Kings’ most practical competition resides wherever the West’s lower seeds are within reach.
De’Aaron Fox Isn’t An All-Star, But He’s Taken The Leap|James L. Jackson|February 25, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
To the west, the area surrounding the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir sees only a fraction of the Valley’s foot traffic but still serves up an abundance of lakes and peaks.
The Ultimate Yosemite National Park Travel Guide|Shawnté Salabert|February 22, 2021|Outside Online
Points north and west, especially, should check back on the forecast later this weekend.
D.C.-area forecast: Spotty light wintry mix ends this morning. Clearer but cold and brisk this weekend.|A. Camden Walker|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
They say all you need is a spot in the NHL playoffs to have a chance at the Stanley Cup and right now the Minnesota Wild, second-to-last in the West, wouldn’t make the playoffs.
A switch to points percentage for NHL playoff seeding could cause chaos|Neil Greenberg|February 19, 2021|Washington Post

Consistent weak winters like the ones we’ve been having in the West make everything harder.
Is This Winter’s Sketchy Snowpack the New Normal?|Heather Hansman|February 19, 2021|Outside Online
There is, however, a separate wing of AQAP designed to inspire their followers to conduct attacks against the West.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The need for an Ebola vaccine in West Africa has never been greater.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
With Ebola still raging in West Africa, the race to find a vaccine is heating up.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I meet Otis J. the night he arrives at “The Castle,” a West Harlem halfway house for newly-released convicts.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Kanye West wants people to stand up and dance at his concerts.
Butts, Brawls, and Bill Cosby: The Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2014 |Kevin Fallon|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The volcanic eruptions of the mountains on the west broke down its barriers, and let its waters flow.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
When the women came, he was preparing to go to the west side for his daily visit with Mrs. Pruitt.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
The cantonment was split into two sections by an irregular ravine, or nullah, running east and west.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
But you are mistaken in thinking the force west consists of the entire Merrill Horse.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Of course, my first row was a long one, quite through the city from west to east, including innumerable turnings and windings.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley

British Dictionary definitions for west (1 of 3)

west

/ (wɛst) /

noun

one of the four cardinal points of the compass, 270° clockwise from north and 180° from east

the direction along a parallel towards the sunset, at 270° clockwise from north

the west (often capital) any area lying in or towards the westRelated adjectives: Hesperian, Occidental

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

adjective

situated in, moving towards, or facing the west

(esp of the wind) from the west

adverb

in, to, or towards the west

archaic (of the wind) from the west

go west informal

to be lost or destroyed irrevocably
to die

Symbol: W

Word Origin for west

Old English; related to Old Norse vestr, Sanskrit avástāt, Latin vesper evening, Greek hésperos

British Dictionary definitions for west (2 of 3)

West¹

/ (wɛst) /

noun the West

the western part of the world contrasted historically and culturally with the East or Orient; the Occident

(formerly) the non-Communist countries of Europe and America contrasted with the Communist states of the EastCompare East (def. 2)

(in the US)

that part of the US lying approximately to the west of the Mississippi
(during the Colonial period) the region outside the 13 colonies, lying mainly to the west of the Alleghenies

(in the ancient and medieval world) the Western Roman Empire and, later, the Holy Roman Empire

adjective

of or denoting the western part of a specified country, area, etc
(as part of a name)the West Coast

British Dictionary definitions for west (3 of 3)

West²

/ (wɛst) /

noun

Benjamin. 1738–1820, US painter, in England from 1763

Kanye, born 1977, US rap singer and producer; his albums include The College Dropout (2004) and Graduation (2007)

Mae. 1892–1980, US film actress

Nathanael, real name Nathan Weinstein. 1903–40, US novelist: author of Miss Lonely-Hearts (1933) and The Day of the Locust (1939)

Dame Rebecca, real name Cicily Isabel Andrews (née Fairfield). 1892–1983, British journalist, novelist, and critic

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

Idioms and Phrases with west

west

see go west.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.