Advent

noun

Ad·​vent ˈad-ˌvent 

chiefly British -vənt

1

: the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting see also advent calendar

2

a

: the coming of Christ at the Incarnation (see incarnation sense 3b(1))

b

: second coming

3

advent : a coming into being or use

the advent of spring

the advent of pasteurization

the advent of personal computers

Synonyms of Advent

• arrival
• appearance

Examples of Advent in a Sentence

with the advent of the mass-produced automobile, the need for a better system of roads and highways soon became apparent

Recent Examples on the Web

Private equity funds are equally hungry for beauty brand takeovers, with Advent International acquiring bodycare brand Salt & Stone for an undisclosed sum. — Clara Ludmir, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

The crowds lined both sides of Willow Springs Road from the Garden Market shopping center to just south of University of Chicago Advent La Grange Hospital. — Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026

Most people aren’t focused on Advent calendars right now — those chocolates hidden under perforated punch-outs to celebrate each day of the season. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026

Keller, a primary care doctor at Advent Health off Prairie Star Parkway, said that the health care facility is struggling with nursing retention due to nurses not having access to nearby affordable homes. — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin adventus, going back to Latin, "arrival, appearance," from adven-, variant stem of advenīre "to arrive" (from ad- ad- + venīre "to come," going back to Indo-European *g^wem-i̯e-) + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at come entry 1

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Advent

• Advent calendar
• Advent Sunday
• Advent wreath

Rhymes for Advent

• accent
• ascent
• assent
• augment
• cement
• consent
• dement
• descent
• detent
• dissent
• event
• extent

Kids Definition

advent

noun

ad·​vent

ˈad-ˌvent

1

capitalized : the season beginning four Sundays before Christmas

2

: the first appearance : arrival

the advent of spring

Etymology

Middle English advent "Christmas season," from Latin adventus (same meaning), from earlier adventus "arrival"