easterly

E1A1S1T1E1R1L1Y4
UK/ˈiː.stə.li/US/ˈiː.stɚ.li/

noun

Any persistent wind from the east (usually a broad current or belt of easterly winds).

“an easterly wind”

Similar
eastlywestwardwestboundeastboundeastwardeasterneasteast wind
Opposite
westerlyeastwardeastboundwestboundwestward
OriginProto-Germanic *līką ← Proto-Indo-European *leyg- ← English easter →
Less commonScrabble 11
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Meanings

easterly1

nouneasterly (plural easterlies)

plural easterlies

  1. climatologyAny persistent wind from the east (usually a broad current or belt of easterly winds).
adjectiveeasterly (comparative more easterly, superlative most easterly)

comparative more easterly · superlative most easterly

  1. usuallyComing from the east; originating in the east.

    an easterly wind

    2 more examples

    an easterly breeze

    The village itself is built on a ridge above the harbour, rows of sturdy cottages over which spume is hurled by easterly gales.

    1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 337, about St Abbs

    Synonyms: eastly, westward, westbound · Antonyms: westerly, eastward, eastbound

  2. Facing the east; directed towards the east.

    an easterly course

    1 more example

    an easterly voyage

    Synonyms: eastbound, eastward, eastly · Antonyms: westerly, westbound, westward

  3. Located towards or in the east.

    the easterly side of the lake

    Synonyms: eastern, eastward, eastly · Antonyms: westerly, western, west

adverbeasterly (comparative more easterly, superlative most easterly)

comparative more easterly · superlative most easterly

  1. In an eastward direction or position; towards the east.
  2. From the east.

Easterly2

proper nounEasterly (plural Easterlys)

plural Easterlys

  1. A surname.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveComing from the east; originating in the east.

Similar
eastlywestwardwestbound
Opposite
westerlyeastwardeastbound

adjectiveFacing the east; directed towards the east.

Similar
eastboundeastwardeastly
Opposite
westerlywestboundwestward

adjectiveLocated towards or in the east.

Similar
easterneastwardeastly
Opposite
westerlywesternwest
Similar
eastly

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivelying in or toward the east

Similar
easterneast

adjectivefrom the east; used especially of winds

Similar
easterneast

nouna wind from the east

Similar
east windeaster
Broader
windair currentcurrent of air

adverbfrom the east

Opposite
westerly
Also see
easteastereasterneastlyeast windeurustrade wind

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englisheaster
  2. Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
  3. Proto-Germanic*līką
  4. Englisheasterly

From easter + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Cantonese 東風 /东风
  • 東風 /东风wind blowing from the east
Chinese Mandarin 東風 /东风
  • 東風 /东风 (dōngfēng)wind blowing from the east
Danish østenvind
  • østenvindwind blowing from the east
Esperanto orienta, oriente
  • orientafrom/to the east
  • orientefrom the east
Hindi पुरवाई, पुरवैया
  • पुरवाई (purvāī)wind blowing from the east
  • पुरवैया (purvaiyā)wind blowing from the east
Japanese 東風, 東風
  • 東風 (kochi)wind blowing from the east
  • 東風 (kochikaze)wind blowing from the east
Latin orientalis, orientale
  • orientaliswind blowing from the east
  • orientalewind blowing from the east
Russian восто́чный ве́тер, восто́чный
  • восто́чный ве́тер (vostóčnyj véter)wind blowing from the east
  • восто́чный (vostóčnyj)from/to the east
Swedish östanvind, östan
  • östanvindwind blowing from the east
  • östanwind blowing from the east
  • östlig vindwind blowing from the east
  • östligfrom/to the east
  • ostligfrom/to the east
Ukrainian схі́дний ві́тер, схі́дний
  • схі́дний ві́тер (sxídnyj víter)wind blowing from the east
  • схі́дний (sxídnyj)from/to the east

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

tresayleAsterley
Cite this entry
APA

easterly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/easterly

MLA

“easterly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/easterly. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “easterly,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/easterly.

Source: easterly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.