west

1 of 3

adverb

: to, toward, or in the west

west

2 of 3

adjective

1
: situated toward or at the west
the west exit
2
: coming from the west
a west wind

west

3 of 3

noun

1
a
: the general direction of sunset : the direction to the left of one facing north
b
: the compass point directly opposite to east
2
capitalized
a
: regions or countries lying to the west of a specified or implied point of orientation
b
: the noncommunist countries of Europe and America
3
: the end of a church opposite the chancel
4
often capitalized
a
: the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the west or at the left of a diagram
b
: a person (such as a bridge player) occupying this position during a specified activity

Examples of west in a Sentence

Adverb They drove west after they got off the highway. They live just west of here. Adjective cities on the west coast Noun There's a beautiful pond to the west of the trail. We will be traveling into the city from the west. If that way is east, then this way is west. Floods have caused extensive damage in the West. Come explore the natural wonders of the American West. policies foreign to the West
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.
Adverb
Tropical Storm Patty Shortly after Nadine and Oscar, Tropical Storm Patty developed on Nov. 2, 2024, from a non-tropical low-pressure system about 550 miles west of the western Azores. Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024 The plot of land is in Starr County, about 35 miles west of McAllen, Texas. Armando Garcia, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Steuben County in the Northeast part of the state was more than 3 points more Democratic than 2020, Benton County on the far west side of the state was 1.6 points more Democratic and Harrison County near the Indiana-Kentucky border was seven points more Democratic. Hayleigh Colombo, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024 Other voters and the poll worker confirmed that the voting process has been relatively fast and smooth at several polling sites on the west side of Milwaukee. Madison Lammert, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
The two parcels of land for the new San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Reservation are located around Willow Springs, west of Tuba City, and the Northern Area, approximately 300 acres in Utah near Navajo Mountain, according to the treaty. Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2024 Hurricane Kirk Formed as a tropical depression on Sept. 29, 2024, west of Cabo Verde, quickly intensifying into a hurricane by Oct. 1. Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for west 

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German westar to the west and probably to Latin vesper evening, Greek hesperos

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Dictionary Entries Near west

Cite this Entry

“West.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/west. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

west

1 of 3 adverb
: to or toward the west

west

2 of 3 adjective
1
: situated toward or at the west
the west entrance
2
: coming from the west
a west wind

west

3 of 3 noun
1
: the direction of sunset : the compass point opposite to east
2
capitalized
a
: regions or countries west of a point that is mentioned or understood
b
: the countries of Europe and the Americas that are not communist

Biographical Definition

West 1 of 4

biographical name (1)

Benjamin 1738–1820 American painter

West

2 of 4

biographical name (2)

Nathanael 1903–1940 originally Nathan Wallenstein Weinstein American novelist

West

3 of 4

biographical name (3)

Dame Rebecca 1892–1983 pseudonym of Cicily Isabel Andrews née Fairfield English critic and novelist

West

4 of 4

biographical name (4)

Thomas see de la warr

More from Merriam-Webster on west

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