winter

noun win·ter \ ˈwin-tər \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of winter

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

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Examples of winter in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of winter from the Web

It is supposed to be spring, but winter apparently isn't ready to loosen its grip on us.

— mike johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Weekend weather shaping up to be 20 degrees colder than normal with snow expected late Sunday into Monday," 6 Apr. 2018
Getting vehicles realigned after a rough season like the 2017-18 winter is essential, Latner said.

— phoebe wall howard, Detroit Free Press, "The scary, hidden damage Michigan potholes can do to your car," 5 Apr. 2018
Scientists have long believed that this behavior can be chalked up to a logical explanation: the monkeys are cold, and dipping in the hot springs helps them keep warm during frigid winters in northern Japan.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Chilling Out in Hot Springs May Help Japan’s Snow Monkeys Reduce Stress," 5 Apr. 2018
In the mountainous regions of Japan, winters can be harsh.

— National Geographic, "Famous Japanese Snow Monkeys Take Baths to Lower Stress," 4 Apr. 2018
Even with more cold in the forecast this weekend, winter is on borrowed time.

— ian livingston, Washington Post, "When will the last freeze happen around the D.C. region, and when is it safe to plant?," 3 Apr. 2018
The couple wants Par Terre to be an all-Idaho winery, but getting the grapes wasn’t possible after rough winters in 2016 and ’17.

— dana oland, idahostatesman, "Garden City grows a new winery: It opens April 5, but you can get a taste this month | Idaho Statesman," 23 Mar. 2018
The authors highlight the winter of 2010-2011, which followed the warmest summer on record in the area.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Research hints at tipping point in the Atlantic’s currents," 14 Mar. 2018
Long winter of discontent | Angela Merkel has a record of staring down adversaries, including global peers such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

— karl maier, Bloomberg.com, "Zuma’s Exit Rekindles Hope in ‘Rainbow Nation’," 15 Feb. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of winter

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German wintar winter and perhaps to Lithuanian vanduo water, Old English wæter — more at water

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year