year

noun

ˈyir 

1

a

: the period of about 365¹/₄ solar days required for one revolution of the earth around the sun

b

: the time required for the apparent sun to return to an arbitrary fixed or moving reference point in the sky

c

: the time in which a planet completes a revolution about the sun

two Mercury years

2

a

: a cycle in the Gregorian calendar of 365 or 366 days divided into 12 months beginning with January and ending with December

b

: a period of time equal to one year of the Gregorian calendar but beginning at a different time

3

: a calendar year specified usually by a number

died in the year 1900

4

years plural : a time or era having a special significance

their glory years

5

a

: 12 months that constitute a measure of age or duration

her 21st year

The twins are two years old.

—often used in combination

two-year-old twins

a six-year-old dog

The winner is a 16-year-old from Kentucky.

b

years plural : age

wise beyond her years

also : the final stage of the normal lifespan

6

: a period of time (such as the usually 9-month period in which a school is in session) other than a calendar year

Examples of year in a Sentence

I haven't seen her in a year.

He quit smoking six years ago.

The job pays $45,000 a year.

She renews her lease every year.

We see them once or twice a year.

It feels like we've been standing in line for a year.

That team hasn't won in years.

It's been years since I've been on an airplane.

The work should be done by the end of the year.

She was born in the year 1967.

Recent Examples on the Web

Roughly 55% of students enrolled in the accounts program for the 2025-26 school year are in kindergarten through fifth grade, while 23% are in middle school and 22% are in high school, according to Smith. —Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2025

In this blog, Everest Group’s Peter Bendor-Samuel and Richard Sear bring together their perspectives from years of experience advising global enterprises and shaping advanced science and technology strategy. —Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025

Hilleary earned more than $213,000 in 2024 as Rose’s chief of staff, similar to several years prior, House office financial disbursement forms show. —David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

Elsewhere, she’s opted for sequin sea blue Balenciaga, and chose a sparkling structural Alexander McQueen gown for last year’s BAFTAs. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English yere, from Old English gēar; akin to Old High German jār year, Greek hōros year, hōra season, hour

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing year

• academic year
• (all) round the year
• all year round
• calendar year
• common year
• dollar-a-year
• financial year
• first year
• fiscal year
• gap year
• great year
• in the year of our Lord
• leap year
• light-year
• man-year
• mast year
• multi-year
• off year
• of the year
• out-year
• sabbatical year
• see the new year in
• seventeen-year locust
• sidereal year
• since (the) year dot
• since (the) year one
• the understatement of the year
• time of year
• twice a year
• vintage year
• year-end
• year of grace
• year-round

Rhymes for year

• adhere
• ameer
• amir
• appear
• arrear
• astir
• austere
• career
• cashier
• cohere
• compere
• emir

Kids Definition

year

noun

ˈyi(ə)r 

1

: the period of about 365¼ days required for the earth to make one complete trip around the sun

2

: a period of 365 days or in leap year 366 days beginning January 1

3

: a period of time usually shorter than a calendar year

a school year of nine months