eastern

adjective

east·​ern ˈē-stərn How to pronounce eastern (audio)
1
capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated East
2
capitalized
a
: of, relating to, or being the Christian churches originating in the church of the Eastern Roman Empire
3
a
: lying toward the east
b
: coming from the east
an eastern wind

Examples of eastern in a Sentence

They live in the eastern part of the state. the eastern shore of the river
Recent Examples on the Web The 2nd Congressional District stretches across much of northern and eastern Arizona. Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 District 1 covers a portion of eastern Benton County, including much of Beaver Lake and the city of Rogers. Doug Thompson, arkansasonline.com, 9 Mar. 2024 Martin said the symphony has heard the outcry from the public about the historic amusement park on Cincinnati's eastern border. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 9 Mar. 2024 This year’s regs include a proposal to allow waterfowl hunting on an 87-mile stretch of the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana that’s currently off limits to waterfowl hunting. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 8 Mar. 2024 The eastern half of the line, which stretches from Middleton to Montfort, Wisconsin, was energized last December. Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024 The clouds mainly painted the eastern sky, where their undersides were lit up as the sun neared the horizon. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The intense blazes in Texas were among several wild weather events occurring Tuesday, including tornadoes in Illinois and a swath of record-high temperatures in the eastern half of the nation. USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2024 The Italian Riviera has two distinct parts: its eastern portion, the Riviera di Levante, is where most international travelers go, seeking out destinations like the Cinque Terre villages and glamorous Portofino. Catherine Sabino, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eastern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English estern, from Old English ēasterne; akin to Old High German ōstrōni eastern, Old English ēast east

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of eastern was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near eastern

Cite this Entry

“Eastern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eastern. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

eastern

adjective
east·​ern ˈē-stərn How to pronounce eastern (audio)
1
capitalized : of, relating to, or like that of the East
Eastern religion
2
: lying toward or coming from the east
easternmost adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on eastern

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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