winter

1 of 3

noun

win·​ter ˈwin-tər How to pronounce winter (audio)
1
: the season between autumn and spring comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of December, January, and February or as reckoned astronomically extending from the December solstice to the March equinox
2
: the colder half of the year
3
: year
happened many winters ago
4
: a period of inactivity or decay

winter

2 of 3

verb

wintered; wintering ˈwin-t(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce winter (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to pass the winter
winters in the Caribbean
2
: to feed or find food during the winter
used with on

transitive verb

: to keep, feed, or manage during the winter

winter

3 of 3

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or suitable for winter
a winter vacation
winter clothes
2
: sown in the autumn and harvested in the following spring or summer
winter wheat
winter rye
compare summer

Examples of winter in a Sentence

Noun They spend winters in Florida. We're in for a cold winter this year, I hear. She traveled there two winters ago. the last day of winter Verb The birds will winter in the southern part of the country. My family winters in Florida. The farm agreed to winter our horses for us.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Keep scrolling to shop more flare pants inspired by Drew Barrymore from Spanx, Gap Factory, and Old Navy to wear this fall and winter. Averi Baudler, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024 Some people with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression usually linked to the shorter days and less sunlight of fall and winter, may struggle, too. Associated Press, TIME, 27 Oct. 2024
Verb
But even experienced rowers will learn lots on tours of the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, where visitors can see wintering sandhill cranes, and on journeys down the Chickamauga Dam Lock. Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Oct. 2024 New data found that the population of monarchs wintering in Mexico earlier this year had shrunk by 59% since last year. Adam Tamburin, Axios, 17 July 2024
Adjective
Winter weather in North Dakota, Minnesota People in northern North Dakota and Minnesota can expect to see snow with some winter advisories in effect through Friday night. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2023 Though convention might tell us to spruce and upgrade our space in the spring (alongside a feverish amount of post-winter cleaning), there is a case to be made for elevating your home right now, mid-fall and pre-holidays. PEOPLE.com, 16 Nov. 2021 See all Example Sentences for winter 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German wintar winter and perhaps to Lithuanian vanduo water, Old English wæter — more at water

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of winter was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near winter

Cite this Entry

“Winter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/winter. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

winter

1 of 3 noun
win·​ter ˈwint-ər How to pronounce winter (audio)
1
: the season between autumn and spring usually including in the northern half of the globe the months of December, January, and February
2
: year sense 2
happened many winters ago
3
: a time or season of idleness or decay

winter

2 of 3 verb
wintered; wintering ˈwint-ə-riŋ How to pronounce winter (audio)
ˈwin-triŋ
1
: to pass or live through the winter
the cattle wintered on the range
2
: to keep, feed, or manage during the winter
winter livestock

winter

3 of 3 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or suitable for winter
winter clothes
2
: sown in autumn and harvested in the following spring or summer
winter wheat

More from Merriam-Webster on winter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!