west
noun
a cardinal point of the compass, 90° to the left when facing north, corresponding to the point where the sun is seen to set. W
west
1 American
[west]
/ wɛst /
noun
-
a cardinal point of the compass, 90° to the left when facing north, corresponding to the point where the sun is seen to set. W
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the direction in which this point lies.
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(usually initial capital letter) a region or territory situated in this direction, especially the western part of the U.S., as distinguished from the East.
a vacation trip through the West.
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the West,
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the western part of the world, as distinguished from the East or Orient; the Occident.
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the non-Communist countries of Western Europe and the Americas.
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adjective
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directed or proceeding toward the west.
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coming from the west.
a west wind.
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lying toward or situated in the west.
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Ecclesiastical. designating, lying toward, or in that part of a church opposite to and farthest from the altar.
adverb
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to, toward, or in the west.
The car headed west.
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from the west.
The wind blew west.
idioms
West
2
American
[west]
/ wɛst /
noun
-
Benjamin, 1738–1820, U.S. painter, in England after 1763.
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Jerome Alan Jerry, born 1938, U.S. basketball player, coach, and executive.
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Mae, 1893–1980, U.S. actress.
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Nathanael Nathan Wallenstein Weinstein, 1902?–40, U.S. novelist.
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Paul, 1930–2015, U.S. poet, essayist, and novelist, born in England.
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Dame Rebecca Cicily Isabel Fairfield Andrews, 1892–1983, English novelist, journalist, and critic, born in Ireland.
West.
3
American
Or
west.
abbreviation
west
1
British
/ wɛst /
noun
-
one of the four cardinal points of the compass, 270° clockwise from north and 180° from east
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the direction along a parallel towards the sunset, at 270° clockwise from north
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(often capital) any area lying in or towards the west
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cards (usually capital) the player or position at the table corresponding to west on the compass
adjective
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situated in, moving towards, or facing the west
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(esp of the wind) from the west
adverb
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in, to, or towards the west
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archaic (of the wind) from the west
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informal
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to be lost or destroyed irrevocably
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to die
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West
2
British
/ wɛst /
noun
-
the western part of the world contrasted historically and culturally with the East or Orient; the Occident
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(formerly) the non-Communist countries of Europe and America contrasted with the Communist states of the East Compare East
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that part of the US lying approximately to the west of the Mississippi
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(during the Colonial period) the region outside the 13 colonies, lying mainly to the west of the Alleghenies
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(in the ancient and medieval world) the Western Roman Empire and, later, the Holy Roman Empire
adjective
west
3
British
/ wɛst /
noun
-
Benjamin. 1738–1820, US painter, in England from 1763
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Kanye , born 1977, US rap singer and producer; his albums include The College Dropout (2004) and Graduation (2007)
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Mae. 1892–1980, US film actress
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Nathanael, real name Nathan Weinstein. 1903–40, US novelist: author of Miss Lonely-Hearts (1933) and The Day of the Locust (1939)
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Dame Rebecca, real name Cicily Isabel Andrews (née Fairfield ). 1892–1983, British journalist, novelist, and critic
west
More Idioms
Etymology
Origin of west
First recorded before 900; from Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch, German west, Old Norse vestr; compare French ouest, Old French from Old English
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Altadena Green estimates that west Altadena lost roughly 70% of its tree canopy in the Eaton fire, and the losses haven’t stopped, with developers and homeowners continuing to clear what’s left.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
After stronger south-westerly winds are due to blow cloud and outbreaks of rain across from the west on Friday, the weather will start to settle down over the weekend.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
He lived in his small hometown about 20 miles west of Comanche and was gaining something like fame as the youngest contestant on Mudcats, a reality TV series about Oklahoma catfish noodlers.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
In August, 2.9 million barrels of oil and refined products a day were exported from the Yanbu port on the country’s west coast, data from the IEA shows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026