autumn

noun

au·​tumn ˈȯ-təm 

1

: the season between summer and winter comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of September, October, and November or as reckoned astronomically extending from the September equinox to the December solstice

called also fall

2

: a period of maturity or incipient decline

in the autumn of life

Synonyms

• afterlife
• afternoon
• age
• evening

Examples of autumn in a Sentence

in the autumn of last year

a magnificent New England autumn

She went off to college in the autumn of 1999.

When autumn came he planted grass.

Recent Examples on the Web

Shakira is rescheduling her North American tour that was originally slated for this autumn. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2024

After a tumultuous summer, Max Verstappen and Red Bull finally found some solace in the Texas autumn and the steely edge of old was back. —Dan Cancian, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

This smells like: Baking a pie in a cottage surrounded by autumn trees, with the windows left open and woodfire smoke drifting in. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2024

There’s no question that Wicked will be one of the biggest films of 2024, and a major fashion presence this autumn, with so many Wicked collaborations already dropping; from nail polish to luggage. —Victoria Montalti, refinery29.com, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English autumpne, borrowed from Anglo-French autompne, borrowed from Latin autumnus (also an adjective, "autumnal"), perhaps a borrowing from Etruscan

Note: Ernout and Meillet (Dictionaire étymologique de la langue latine) regard an Etruscan origin as definite ("sans doute") and compare the form to Vertumnus/Vortumnus, claimed by Varro to be an Etruscan god. (The Romans regarded Vertumnus as a god of the changing seasons, by association with the verb vertere "to turn.")

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing autumn

• autumn crocus

Kids Definition

autumn

noun

au·​tumn ˈȯt-əm 

1

: the season between summer and winter including in the northern hemisphere usually the months of September, October, and November

called also fall

2

: a time late in an existence

in the autumn of life

autumnal

ȯ-ˈtəm-nəl 

adjective