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

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

Despite its latitude, winters are milder than expected, averaging 39°F (4°C) from December to February. —Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

In late winter to early spring, carpenter ants swarm to mate and start new colonies. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 30 June 2025

Verb

Biologists estimate that prior to the canal, about 12,500 ducks would winter along the river, as the annual flooding both allowed for wild millet, a favorite food for many species of wild duck, and offered prime habitat for both migrating and resident waterfowl. —Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2025

Some of the birds that wintered in our valley spent their summers on that coastline, but hardly any humans made the journey. —James Rebanks june 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025

Adjective

Extreme cold is much more likely to kill people than exposure to extreme heat, and winter month death rates have been trending 8% to 12% higher than non-winter months in the U.S. for the last several years, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Winter weather in North Dakota, Minnesota People in northern North Dakota and Minnesota can expect to see snow with some winter advisories in effect through Friday night. —Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2023

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