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

While Spain is accustomed to autumn storms that sometimes bring seasonal flooding, the recent downpours have resulted in the deadliest floods in living memory. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

In the calm waters off Seal Beach, California, surfers are currently busy catching the best waves and beachgoers are soaking up the last of the summer sun before autumn is in full swing. —Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Advertisement Spain’s Mediterranean coast is used to autumn storms that can cause flooding, but this was the most powerful flash flood event in recent memory. —Alberto Saiz, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

Bobbing for Apples is their version of an autumn old fashioned, made with Calvados apple brandy and Becherovka liqueur. —Laura Barrero, Axios, 31 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