east and west
Sunrise and sunset
East and west are opposite cardinal directions—east where the sun rises, west where it sets.
Together the phrase often emphasizes wide coverage or stark contrast: The news spread east and west.
It can highlight division: East and West had different views on the treaty.
In some contexts, east and west simply means everywhere or in all directions.
- northArctic-facing cardinal direction
- southCardinal direction opposite north
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
- cardinal directionsPrimary navigational bearings
- directionWay something faces
horizon · sunrise · sunset · orient · occident · cardinal · hemisphere · longitude · coast · wind · trade · silk road · frontier · divide · Iron Curtain · meeting · opposite · polarized