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east

Meaning in simple English

US /iːst/

east means: The direction where the sun rises, opposite the direction where it sets.

noun

COMPASS DIRECTIONA1

The direction where the sun rises, opposite the direction where it sets.

  • The sun rises in the east.
  • The compass needle pointed toward the east.
  • Our hotel is to the east of the station.

How to use it: to the east of something (The lake lies to the east of the village.)

Opposites: west

Common phrases: due east, to the east, face the east

EASTERN AREAA2

The part of a country or region on the side where the sun rises.

  • My cousins live in the east.
  • Rain will reach the east by evening.
  • Many towns in the east grew around factories.

Similar words: eastern part

Opposites: west

Common phrases: in the east, the far east, from the east

adjective

EASTERN POSITIONA2

On or toward the side where the sun rises.

  • Use the east entrance.
  • Their house stands on the east side of town.
  • The east wall gets plenty of morning sunlight.

Similar words: eastern, eastward

Opposites: west

Common phrases: east coast, east wall, east entrance

EASTERN CONNECTIONB1

Connected with a region or country on the side where the sun rises.

  • The course covers East Asian art.
  • She studies East African languages.
  • The exhibition explores East European history.

Similar words: eastern

Opposites: western

Common phrases: East Asian culture, East African trade, East European history

preposition

EASTWARDA2

Toward the direction where the sun rises, or on that side of a place.

  • We drove east all morning.
  • The storm moved east overnight.
  • Their farm lies east of the town.

How to use it: east of something (The village is ten miles east of the city.); east from something (We travelled east from the capital.)

Similar words: eastward, eastwards

Opposites: west

Common phrases: drive east, head east, east of something

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east in other languages

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