west
wehst
West (noun) means the compass direction that the sun sets in; the direction 90 degrees anticlockwise from north. Example: “The house faces west, so we get a great sunset every evening.”
noun
1
The compass direction that the sun sets in; the direction 90 degrees anticlockwise from north.
"The house faces west, so we get a great sunset every evening."
"Birds were flying west in a long, ragged line."
adj
1
Situated in, facing, or moving toward the west.
"They bought a plot on the west side of the valley."
"A cold west wind rattled the windows all night."
name
1
"The West" — a loose cultural and political grouping covering the US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, often contrasted with other parts of the world.
"The alliance is seen as a symbol of unity between Western nations."
How to use west
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe direction the sun sets; also used loosely for the US/Europe/Australia bloc of countries.
Common pairings
head west
the West Coast
western world
due west
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like west.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- wests
- Third person singular
- wests
- Past tense
- wested
- Comparative
- further west, farther west
- Superlative
- farthest west, furthest west
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The house faces _____, so we get a great sunset every evening.
Etymology
Traces back through Old English west to a very old Germanic root tied to the word for "evening" — since west is, after all, where the sun goes down.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for west
See all rhymes for west →Frequently asked questions
What does “west” mean?
The word “west” means the compass direction that the sun sets in; the direction 90 degrees anticlockwise from north. In plain terms, the direction the sun sets; also used loosely for the US/Europe/Australia bloc of countries.
How do you pronounce “west”?
“West” is pronounced wehst (/wɛst/ in IPA).
How do you use “west” in a sentence?
Here is “west” used in a sentence: “The house faces west, so we get a great sunset every evening.”
What part of speech is “west”?
Depending on how it is used, “west” can be a noun, an adjective and a name.
Where does the word “west” come from?
The word “west” comes from Old English. Traces back through Old English west to a very old Germanic root tied to the word for "evening" — since west is, after all, where the sun goes down.
Is “west” a common word?
“West” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “west” have?
“West” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the compass direction that the sun sets in; the direction 90 degrees anticlockwise from north.
What is the opposite of west?
East is the opposite of west. If west is where the sun sets, east is where it rises, and the two lie directly across from each other on the compass. North and south form the other pair of opposites, sitting at right angles to the east–west line.
Which direction is west?
West is the direction of the setting sun. If you face north, west is on your left; if you face the rising sun in the east, west is directly behind you. On a standard map, west is the left-hand side, opposite east on the right.
What is the difference between 'west' and 'western'?
West is mainly a noun or adverb naming the direction itself — 'drive to the west.' Western is the adjective describing something that belongs to or comes from that direction, such as western Europe or a western wind. So you travel west, but you live in the western suburbs.
Why does the sun set in the west?
Because the Earth spins from west to east. As the planet rotates, the sun appears to move the opposite way across the sky — rising on the eastern horizon and sinking below the western one. The sun is not really moving; our turning viewpoint is what makes it set in the west.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include west:
