season

1 of 2

noun

sea·​son ˈsē-zᵊn 

1

a

: a time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature

… in a season of religious awakening …

—F. A. Christie

b

: a suitable or natural time or occasion

… when my season comes to sit / On David's throne …

—John Milton

c

: an indefinite period of time : while

… sent home again to her father for a season.

—Francis Hackett

2

a

: a period of the year characterized by or associated with a particular activity or phenomenon

hay fever season

: such as

(1)

: a period associated with some phase or activity of agriculture (such as growth or harvesting)

(2)

: a period in which an animal engages in some activity (such as migrating or mating)

also : estrus, heat

(3)

: the period normally characterized by a particular kind of weather

a long rainy season

(4)

: a period marked by special activity especially in some field

tourist season

hunting season

(5)

: a period in which a place is most frequented

b

: one of the four quarters into which the year is commonly divided

c

: the time of a major holiday

d

: a period of time when a series of new television shows, plays, etc., are being shown or performed

a show entering its second season

the first/best episode of the season

the season's final performance

3

: year

a boy of seven seasons

4

[Middle English sesoun, from sesounen to season] : seasoning

5

: the schedule of official games played or to be played by a sports team during a playing season

got through the season undefeated

6

: offseason

closed for the season

season

2 of 2

verb

seasoned; seasoning sē-zᵊn-iŋ 

ˈsēz-niŋˈ

transitive verb

1

a

: to give (food) more flavor or zest by adding seasoning

b

: to give a distinctive quality to as if by seasoning

especially : to make more agreeable

advice seasoned with wit

c

archaic : to qualify by admixture : temper

2

a

: to treat (something, such as wood or a skillet) so as to prepare for use

b

: to make fit by experience

a seasoned veteran

intransitive verb

: to become seasoned

Phrases

in season

1

: at the right time

2

: at the stage of greatest fitness (as for eating)

peaches are in season

3

: legally available to be hunted or caught

out of season

: not in season

Synonyms of season

Verb

• flavor
• spice

Examples of season in a Sentence

Noun

I enjoy watching the seasons change every year.

These plants have a short growing season.

Deer season starts next week.

Monsoon season is coming soon.

This season's fashions are very feminine.

Pink is in style this season.

The theater company will be putting on plays by Shakespeare this season.

one of the shows in the network's season lineup

Verb

You must season the firewood.

the chef seasoned the vegetables as soon as they came out of the oven

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Phillip Faraone / Getty Images The LA Clippers’ abrupt decision to part ways with Chris Paul in the middle of his final NBA season — and the way the organization handled that decision — is not sitting well with one of Paul’s most prominent former teammates. —Mike Prada, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2025

Still to come in December are Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 and the second season of Fallout on Prime Video. —Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025

Verb

Sunflower seeds are a widely available snack, often found shelled in the bulk foods section or unshelled in bags and seasoned with various flavorings. —Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 27 Nov. 2025

This year’s Black Friday deals are full of those rare finds that are both practical and a pleasure to use—the kind of duffel bags, noise-canceling earbuds, and game-changing neck pillows that seasoned travelers quietly swear by. —Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sesoun, from Anglo-French seison natural season, appropriate time, from Latin sation-, satio action of sowing, from serere to sow — more at sow

Verb

Middle English sesounen, back-formation from sesounde flavored, from Anglo-French seisoné brought to a desired state, from seison

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing season

• breeding season
• Christmas season
• flu season
• growing season
• holiday season
• low season
• mating season
• mud season
• off-season
• open season
• peak season
• season ticket
• season to taste
• silly season
• the holiday season
• tourist season

Rhymes for season

• reason
• seizin
• treason
• milesian
• partizan
• postseason
• preseason
• unreason

Kids Definition

season

1 of 2 noun

sea·​son ˈsēz-ᵊn 

1

a

: a suitable or natural time or occasion

a season for all things

b

: an indefinite period of time : while

willing to wait a season

2

a

: a period of the year associated with something in particular that happens every year

the baseball season

b

: a period marked by special activity especially in some field

tourist season

c

: a period in which a place is most often visited

d

: one of the four quarters into which the year is commonly divided compare autumn sense 1, spring, summer entry 1 sense 1, winter sense 1

e

: the time of a major holiday

3

: seasoning

4

: the schedule of official games played or to be played by a sports team during a playing season

got through the season undefeated

season

2 of 2 verb

seasoned; seasoning ˈsēz-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

1

: to make pleasant to the taste by adding seasoning

a seasoned stew

2

a

: to make or become suitable for use (as by drying)

season lumber

b

: to make fit by experience

a seasoned sailor

seasoner

ˈsēz-nər, 

-ᵊn-ər

noun