winter

1 of 3

noun

win·​ter ˈwin-tər 

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 

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

Synonyms of winter

Noun

• lull
• break
• downtime
• layoff
• recess

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

Noun

But extreme warmth across the West this winter has meant more precipitation falling as rain, not snow — a symptom of global warming, experts say, which in recent years has been pushing average snow lines higher in the mountains and changing the timing of runoff. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Second, severe winter storms likely put a big damper on hiring in weather-sensitive industries like construction and leisure and hospitality. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026

Verb

Andy Shaw is a semi-retired Chicago journalist and good government watchdog who winters in Mexico. —Andy Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026

Hummingbirds, fresh from wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, are already pushing north, and Southern backyards are their first stop1. —Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2026

Adjective

Taking advantage of any hint of a mid-winter warm-up, Vernal Witchhazel will pop out massive flower crops — a single mature plant providing enough fragrance to fill several residential yards. —Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Feb. 2026

City public school students were off last week for mid-winter break and so didn’t have a real opportunity to connect with the technology and classroom materials needed for remote learning, officials said. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026

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

Phrases Containing winter

• dead of winter
• nuclear winter
• the depth of winter
• winter aconite
• winter crookneck
• winter flounder
• winter-kill
• winter melon
• winter quarters
• winter savory
• winter sport
• winter squash

Rhymes for winter

• minter
• printer
• sinter
• splinter
• sprinter
• midwinter
• reenter
• overwinter
• teleprinter

Kids Definition

winter

1 of 3 noun

win·​ter ˈwint-ər 

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 

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