The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word EASTERN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
E
A
S
T
E
R
N
More clues leading to the result EASTERN
- Nearest winds coming from one direction
- Oriental festival supported by unspecified number
- Chinese, perhaps, initially edging towards rear of ship
- Seen on choppy sea, aquatic bird from the orient
- Terribly earnest Japanese?
- Great for Brunel as each ship’s back
- Core of team back from China?
- Fylde in the end behind Orient
- From one direction, point to the back of the ship
- Oriental festival supported by nationalist
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "towards the sunrise" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case towards the sunrise = eastern.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does EASTERN mean?
EASTERN adjective- Of, facing, situated in, or related to the east.
- (of a wind) Blowing from the east; easterly.
- Oriental.