east

6 synonyms and 6 antonyms for east, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The direction toward which the Earth rotates, where the sun rises.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

eastward

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

easterly the Orient pertaining to the east E

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The direction toward which the Earth rotates, where the sun rises.

“The hikers headed east toward the rising sun.”

eastward easterly the Orient of pertaining to the east E

Opposites

westward westerly antonym(s) of “of pertaining to the east” westwards west

2. adj

Situated in or facing the east.

“They bought a house on the east side of town.”

Opposites

west

How to use east

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

due east the Far East east of

Etymology

From Old English ēast, an ancient word shared across the Germanic languages, ultimately going back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "dawn."

Full origin of east →

Frequently asked questions

What does “east” mean?

The word “east” means the direction toward which the Earth rotates, where the sun rises. In plain terms, the compass direction where the sun rises, or a region lying in that direction.

How do you pronounce “east”?

“East” is pronounced ihyst (/iːst/ in IPA).

How do you use “east” in a sentence?

Here is “east” used in a sentence: “The hikers headed east toward the rising sun.”

What is another word for “east”?

Words with a similar meaning to “east” include of and pertaining to the east.

What is the opposite of “east”?

The opposite of “east” — its antonyms — are westward, westerly, antonym(s) of “of, pertaining to the east” and westwards.

What part of speech is “east”?

Depending on how it is used, “east” can be a noun, an adjective, an adverb and a name.

Where does the word “east” come from?

The word “east” comes from Old English. From Old English ēast, an ancient word shared across the Germanic languages, ultimately going back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "dawn.".

Is “east” a common word?

“East” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

What is the difference between east and west?

East and west are opposite directions on the compass. East is where the sun appears to rise and the direction the Earth rotates toward; west is where the sun sets, directly opposite. If you face the sunrise, east is straight ahead and west is directly behind you.

Why does the sun rise in the east?

The sun rises in the east because the Earth spins toward the east, turning from west to east on its axis. As your part of the planet rotates into the sunlight, the sun seems to climb up from the eastern horizon. It only appears to move; in truth, the ground beneath you is turning.

What does 'the East' mean with a capital E?

Capitalized, 'the East' usually refers to a region rather than a pure direction. It often means Asia and its cultures — sometimes called the Orient — as in 'the Far East.' It can also describe the eastern part of a country, such as the East Coast of the United States.

People also searched

of west westward eastward westerly westwards

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of east