eastern

adjective

east·​ern ˈē-stərn How to pronounce eastern (audio)
1
Eastern : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated East
2
Eastern
a
: of, relating to, or being the Christian churches originating in the church of the Eastern Roman Empire
b
: eastern orthodox
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On top of that over the last two weeks of August, a trough over the eastern Pacific was bringing in even heavier rain than typical for multiple days in a row, Weiss said. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Finally, there is Jupiter, becoming increasingly obvious as a brilliant light, low in the eastern sky a few hours before sunrise. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Citing data from consultancy Energy Aspects, Reuters notes that due to war damage or export disruptions, approximately one-fifth of Middle Eastern refining capacity is currently offline. — CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 Conflict between the government and rebel groups in the eastern region, attacks on health workers and an intense population movement also have worsened the outbreak. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eastern

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

Phrases Containing eastern

Rhymes for eastern

See All Rhymes for eastern

Browse Nearby Words

eastermost
eastern
eastern apple box
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Eastern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eastern. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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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
-ˌmōst How to pronounce eastern (audio)
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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