season

noun

sea·son | \ ˈsē-zᵊn

Definition of season

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

2a : 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 : off-season closed for the season

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

season

verb

seasoned; seasoning\ ˈsēz-niŋ

, ˈsē-zᵊn-iŋ \

Definition of season (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to give (food) more flavor or zest by adding seasoning or savory ingredients

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

2a : 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

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about season

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Synonyms for season

Synonyms: Verb

flavor, lace, savor (also savour), 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

Our strategy this season is to think beyond colors and patterns and simply focus on fit. — Vogue, "Shop the Season’s Best Swimsuits for Every Personality," 24 June 2019 Hayne Palmour IV/The San Diego Union-Tribune Padres shuffle pitching staff with Dinelson Lamet’s return considered imminent, numerous off days coming up PITTSBURGH — The Padres rotation equation has all season been rife with variables. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "For starters, Quantrill in bullpen is one piece of Padres’ rotation equation," 22 June 2019 Gardening season is in full swing and there are lots of questions out there. — oregonlive.com, "Need tips on how to prune back a rhododendron? Ask an Expert," 29 June 2019 Economic impact The number of licenses sold for Michigan’s firearm deer-hunting season in 2018 was down to 621,000 from a high of 785,000 deer hunters in 1998, a nearly 21% reduction. — Michigan Wildlife Council, Detroit Free Press, "Proposed legislation boosts funding for Michigan conservation efforts," 28 June 2019 Luke is hoping 2019 is the season that establishes the culture. — Adam Coleman, Houston Chronicle, "Soft-shell helmets debut at 7-on-7 tourney," 28 June 2019 Wedding season is upon us, and that can only mean one thing: a deluge of ornate envelopes inviting us to celebrate the marriages of our nearest and dearest. — Constance Grady, Vox, "Decoding the wedding dress code," 27 June 2019 The difference between Happ and Bumgarner this season may be the fact that one of the two pitch in the AL East. — James O’connell, courant.com, "Madison Bumgarner is not the Yankees’ savior," 27 June 2019 Not one fashion show this European menswear season was as angelic as Jacquemus, and quite frankly, no one came close to his shade range in models. — Nandi Howard, Essence, "The Jacquemus Runway Was Pure Melanin Magic," 26 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Carne asada is religion in Hermosillo: thinly sliced, simply seasoned and grilled over mesquite charcoal. — Patricia Escárcega, latimes.com, "Exploring Hermosillo, northern Mexico’s great unsung food city," 26 June 2019 Few details were released Monday about this fall's events, which will be free to season pass holders. — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, "Don't freak out, but 'Halloscream' is coming back to Kentucky Kingdom this October," 24 June 2019 Chingri Bhaaja — large prawns seasoned and fried in ghee — are deliciously fragrant and make a wonderful starter. — SFChronicle.com, "Our favorite cookbooks of 2019, so far," 21 June 2019 It's grilled shrimp on a skewer that is seasoned and finished with a raspberry chipotle barbecue sauce. — Linda Girardi, Elgin Courier-News, "'Family of ribbers' delivers sweet and smoky choices at annual Elgin Ribfest," 15 June 2019 Serve with mustard and vinegar on the side and let guests season their bowls to taste. — Eleanore Park, WSJ, "How to Eat to Beat the Heat, Korean Style," 8 Aug. 2018 While the Kare-Kare is simmering, bring a pot of water seasoned with salt to a boil. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "3 chefs share recipes inspired by their cooking dads," 11 June 2019 The vinegar dressing, meanwhile, was seasoned with not just hot chiles but pickled bell peppers, carrots and cucumbers, making this escovitch more interesting than usual. — New York Times, "A Brooklyn Favorite for Jamaican Food Beats the Odds," 26 June 2018 Meanwhile, the fish is seasoned from the inside with a turmeric-chile seasoning that’s mixed with fresh lime juice and then cooked until the skin crisps up in the pan. — Nik Sharma, San Francisco Chronicle, "A Brown Kitchen: Turmeric-Baked Sea Bass With Saffron Couscous," 15 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'season.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for season

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

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