westing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/TechnicalTechnical/Historical (Navigation, Sailing, Surveying), Figurative (Formal Writing)
Quick answer
What does “westing” mean?
The distance travelled or position gained in a westward direction.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The distance travelled or position gained in a westward direction.
In navigation or surveying, a westward component of movement or distance. Also, the process of moving westward. Used figuratively to denote a shift toward more conservative or traditional positions (politics/ideology).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally rare in both varieties, confined to the same technical fields.
Connotations
Technical precision, historical sailing, exploration. In figurative use, can imply a deliberate, almost measurable ideological shift.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Possibly slightly more encountered in historical British naval writing, but the distinction is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “westing” in a Sentence
The vessel + verb (made/gained) + [quantifier] + westing.To calculate + the + westing + of + NP.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “westing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The old navigator noted they needed to west more to avoid the coast.
- The fleet wested cautiously through the fog.
American English
- The captain decided to west another twenty miles before nightfall.
- To reach the channel, we must west for several hours.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'westing' is not used as an adverb. Use 'westward'.)
American English
- (Not standard; 'westing' is not used as an adverb. Use 'westward'.)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; 'westing' is not used as a pure adjective. Use 'western' or 'westerly'.)
American English
- (Not standard; 'westing' is not used as a pure adjective. Use 'western' or 'westerly'.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical geography, navigation history, or polar studies papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core usage in navigation (sailing, aviation) to denote the westward component of a vessel's dead reckoning or actual track. Used in surveying and cartography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “westing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “westing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “westing”
- Using it as a common synonym for 'west'.
- Treating it as a frequent, everyday word.
- Confusing 'westing' (westward distance) with 'westering' (moving or facing west, often poetic).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare and technical term primarily used in navigation, surveying, and historical contexts.
No. 'Westing' refers specifically to movement or distance westward, not to the western region itself. Use 'the west' or 'western part' instead.
The direct opposite in its technical sense is 'easting', which measures eastward distance or progress.
No, that is incorrect. The correct adjective is 'westerly' (a westerly wind). 'Westing' is almost exclusively a noun.
The distance travelled or position gained in a westward direction.
Westing is usually technical/historical (navigation, sailing, surveying), figurative (formal writing) in register.
Westing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɛstɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɛstɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Make westing: To succeed in progressing westward, especially against difficulty.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a compass. 'Northing' is up, 'Easting' is right. 'Westing' is the opposite of Easting – it's the distance left.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS TRAVEL WESTWARD (historical/ideological); POLITICAL CHANGE IS CHANGE IN DIRECTION (the party's westing).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would you most likely encounter the term 'westing'?