Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

New Year

noun

Definition of New Year

1 : the calendar year about to start or recently started
2a usually New Year's : new year's day
b : the first days of a calendar year
3 : rosh hashanah

First Known Use of New Year

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about New Year

Statistics for New Year

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for New Year

The first known use of New Year was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for New Year

New Year

noun

English Language Learners Definition of New Year

: the first day of the year celebrated as a holiday
: the year that is about to start or that has just started

See the full definition for New Year in the English Language Learners Dictionary

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on New Year

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with New Year

Spanish Central: Translation of New Year

Nglish: Translation of New Year for Spanish Speakers

Comments on New Year

What made you want to look up New Year? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

nosegay

Listen to the pronounciation of nosegay

a small bunch of flowers

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Farm Idioms Quiz

  • cow coming home
  • What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games