east

east — noun

1. the side of the world where the sun appears at the start of the day; the point o

1.nounA1
Definition

the side of the world where the sun appears at the start of the day; the point on a compass that is opposite to west, or the area of a place located in that direction

Example

The sun rises in the east every morning, so our bedroom windows face that way.

collocation: in the east

Tuan's house is about three miles to the east of the town center.

collocation: to the east of

Common collocations
  • to the east
  • in the east
  • from the east
  • toward the east
Antonyms
  • west

    the opposite compass direction

Grammar Patterns

to the east

in the east

from the east

Usage Note

When uncapitalized, 'east' refers to the compass direction. When capitalized ('the East'), it refers to a specific region of the world (see sense 2 and sense 3).

Common Mistakes

The sun rises from east.
The sun rises in the east.
the fixed expression uses 'in the east,' not 'from east.'
They live to east of the river.
They live to the east of the river.
'the' is needed before 'east' in this structure.

2. the nations and societies of Asia, with a focus on the lands from China and Japa

2.nounB1
Definition

the nations and societies of Asia, with a focus on the lands from China and Japan through India and Southeast Asia

Example

The spices of the East have been traded along these ocean routes for centuries.

formal register: the East = Asia

Femi's grandfather told stories about his travels to the Far East in the 1960s.

Common collocations
  • the East
  • the Far East
  • art of the East
  • traditions of the East
Synonyms
  • Asia

    the standard modern term for the continent; broader than 'the East'

Antonyms
  • the West

    Europe and North America, as cultural counterparts

Grammar Patterns

the East

Usage Note

Always capitalized ('the East') when referring to Asia. This usage can sound old-fashioned or formal; in everyday conversation, specific region names ('East Asia', 'Southeast Asia') are more common.

Common Mistakes

The east has many ancient cultures.
The East has many ancient cultures.
capitalize 'East' when it names a region rather than a direction.

3. the European countries that were under communist rule from the late 1940s until

3.nounB2
Definition

the European countries that were under communist rule from the late 1940s until the political changes of 1989 to 1991

Example

After the Berlin Wall fell, many countries in the East opened their borders to Western visitors.

historical register: the East = former communist Europe

Ada remembers when the East and West were divided by barbed wire and checkpoints.

Common collocations
  • the East
  • the former East
  • the communist East
Synonyms
  • Eastern Bloc

    a more precise political term for the Soviet-allied countries

  • Soviet bloc

    emphasizes the dominant role of the Soviet Union in this grouping

Antonyms
  • the West

    the capitalist democracies of Western Europe and North America during the Cold War

Grammar Patterns

the East

Usage Note

Always capitalized ('the East') when used in this historical sense. This meaning is specific to the Cold War period (roughly 1945–1991) and is less relevant to contemporary discussions of Europe.

Common Mistakes

The east had a different economic system.
The East had a different economic system.
capitalize when referring to the Cold War bloc of nations.

east — adjective

east — adverb

Word family

  • eastern
    adjectiveA2
  • easterly
    adjectiveB1
  • eastward
    adverbB1
  • eastwards
    adverbB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'East' and 'eastern' both describe location on the east side, but 'east' is used directly before a noun ('east wing', 'east gate') and sounds more concrete and specific. 'Eastern' is more flexible — it can go before a noun or after a linking verb ('the region is eastern'), and it suits broader, abstract uses such as 'eastern philosophy' or 'eastern Europe'. 'Easterly' emphasises direction of movement or origin, especially for wind ('an easterly breeze') or routes. 'Eastward' is an adverb meaning 'toward the east' ('they sailed eastward'). For a fixed location, use 'east' or 'eastern'; for motion or wind direction, 'easterly' or 'eastward' fit better.

east ↗eastern ↗easterlyeastward

Common collocations

Nouns

  • east coast
  • east side
  • East Asia
  • east wind

Adverbs

  • due east
  • directly east
  • further east

Phrases

  • east of
  • to the east

Prepositions

  • to the east of
  • in the east
  • from the east

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'east' comes from Old English 'ēast', which traces back to a Proto-Germanic word '*austrą'. This Germanic root comes from an even older Indo-European word '*h₂ews-', meaning 'dawn' or 'to shine'. The connection makes sense: the east is the direction of the sunrise. Related words in other languages include Latin 'aurora' (dawn) and Greek 'ēṓs' (dawn).