autumn

noun

au·​tumn ˈȯ-təm 

1

: the season between summer and winter comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of September, October, and November or as reckoned astronomically extending from the September equinox to the December solstice

called also fall

2

: a period of maturity or incipient decline

in the autumn of life

Synonyms

• afterlife
• afternoon
• age
• evening

Examples of autumn in a Sentence

in the autumn of last year

a magnificent New England autumn

She went off to college in the autumn of 1999.

When autumn came he planted grass.

Recent Examples on the Web

Climbing hydrangea produces striking blooms—white lace-cap flowers that bloom in late spring and summer—as well as eye-catching foliage which turns yellow in autumn. —Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2024

Travelers who stay in autumn can even help with the harvest. —Katie Jackson, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

There will certainly always be those who remember those autumn afternoons. —Wil Haygood, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024

Don't forget to turn your attention to the powerful eclipse taking place in late autumn, though! —Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024

And that means the market's rally since autumn could have legs, a development that would further lift Americans’ 401(k) balances and other investments this year even after an already big run-up. —Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024

Definitely April, at the start of the season when the days are long, and late October, when the autumn colors start to emerge. —Sara Magro, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024

The tour will find Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney performing across North America in the autumn. —Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2024

The company plans to begin field demonstrations this autumn, using a prototype device to drill holes in hard rock at a site in Marble Falls, Tex. —IEEE Spectrum, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English autumpne, borrowed from Anglo-French autompne, borrowed from Latin autumnus (also an adjective, "autumnal"), perhaps a borrowing from Etruscan

Note: Ernout and Meillet (Dictionaire étymologique de la langue latine) regard an Etruscan origin as definite ("sans doute") and compare the form to Vertumnus/Vortumnus, claimed by Varro to be an Etruscan god. (The Romans regarded Vertumnus as a god of the changing seasons, by association with the verb vertere "to turn.")

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing autumn

• autumn crocus

Kids Definition

autumn

noun

au·​tumn ˈȯt-əm 

1

: the season between summer and winter including in the northern hemisphere usually the months of September, October, and November

called also fall

2

: a time late in an existence

in the autumn of life

autumnal

ȯ-ˈtəm-nəl 

adjective