new

[ noo, nyoo ]

adjective

, new·er, new·est.

1. of recent origin, production, purchase, etc.; having but lately come or been brought into being:

   a new book.

2. of a kind now existing or appearing for the first time; novel:

   a new concept of the universe.

3. having but lately or but now come into knowledge:

   a new chemical element.

4. unfamiliar or strange (often followed by to ): to visit new lands.

   ideas new to us;

   to visit new lands.

5. having but lately come to a place, position, status, etc.:

   a reception for our new minister.

6. unaccustomed (usually followed by to ):

   people new to such work.

7. coming or occurring afresh; further; additional:

   new gains.

8. fresh or unused:

   to start a new sheet of paper.

9. (of physical or moral qualities) different and better:

   The vacation made a new man of him.

10. other than the former or the old: in the New World.

    a new era;

    in the New World.

11. being the later or latest of two or more things of the same kind: a new edition of Shakespeare.

    the New Testament;

    a new edition of Shakespeare.

12. (initial capital letter) (of a language) in its latest known period, especially as a living language at the present time:

    New High German.

13. the new, designating the newly fashionable, trendy, or popular thing, replacing or equaling the success of a specified previous one: Knitting is the new rock-'n'-roll.

    While nothing will ever replace black as “the new black,” these new neutrals, especially beige, look like contenders.

    Knitting is the new rock-'n'-roll.

    Is kelp the new kale?

adverb

1. recently or lately (usually used in combination):

   The valley was green with new-planted crops.

2. freshly; anew or afresh (often used in combination): new-mown hay.

   roses new washed with dew;

   new-mown hay.

noun

1. something that is new; a new object, quality, condition, etc.:

   Ring out the old, ring in the new.

new

/ njuː /

adjective

1. 1. recently made or brought into being

      our new baby

      a new dress

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the new

2. of a kind never before existing; novel

   a new concept in marketing

3. having existed before but only recently discovered

   a new comet

4. markedly different from what was before

   the new liberalism

5. fresh and unused; not second-hand

   a new car

6. prenominal having just or recently become

   a new bride

7. often foll byto or at recently introduced (to); inexperienced (in) or unaccustomed (to)

   new to this neighbourhood

8. capital in names or titles more or most recent of two or more things with the same name

   the New Testament

9. prenominal fresh; additional

   I'll send some new troops

10. often foll by to unknown; novel

    this is new to me

11. (of a cycle) beginning or occurring again

    a new year

12. prenominal (of crops) harvested early

    new carrots

13. changed, esp for the better

    she returned a new woman from her holiday

14. up-to-date; fashionable
15. capital when part of a name; prenominal being the most recent, usually living, form of a language

    New High German

16. the new
    the new vogue

    comedy is the new rock'n'roll

17. turn over a new leaf
    to reform; make a fresh start

adverb

1. recently, freshly

   new-laid eggs

2. anew; again

Pronunciation Note

Following the alveolar consonants [t], [d], and [n], two main types of pronunciation occur for the “long” vowel represented by the spellings u, ue, discontinuous u...e, and ew, as in student, due, nude, and new. In the North and North Midland U.S. [oo] immediately follows the alveolar consonant: [stood, -nt], [doo], [nood], and [noo]. In the South Midland and Southern U.S., pronunciations of the type [styood, -nt], [dyoo], [nyood], and [nyoo] predominate. Both these types are traceable to England, as well as some less common ones, for example, those in which the high front vowel [i] substitutes for the [y]. A belief that the [yoo] pronunciations are more prestigious sometimes leads to hypercorrection, the insertion of the y sound where historically it does not belong, leading to such pronunciations as [nyoon] for noon. Currently in the United States, a [y] following [s], [z], [th], and [l], as in sue [syoo], resume [ri-, zyoom], enthusiasm [en-, thyoo, -see-az-, uh, m], and illusion [ih-, lyoo, -zh, uh, n], is used by some speakers, but is considered an affectation by others.

Derived Forms

• ˈnewness, noun

Other Words From

• new·ness noun
• qua·si-new adjective
• qua·si-new·ly adverb
• un·new adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of new¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English newe (adjective, adverb, and noun), Old English nēowe, nīewe, nīwe (adjective and adverb); cognate with Dutch nieuw, German neu, Old Norse nȳr, Gothic niujis, Old Irish núe, Welsh newydd, Greek neîos; akin to Latin novus, Old Church Slavonic novŭ, Greek néos, Sanskrit navas

Word History and Origins

Origin of new¹

Old English nīowe; related to Gothic niujis, Old Norse naujas, Latin novus

Idioms and Phrases

• break (new) ground
• breathe new life into
• feel like (new)
• nothing new under the sun
• teach an old dog new tricks
• turn over a new leaf
• what's cooking (new)
• whole new ballgame

Synonym Study

New, fresh, novel describe things that have not existed or have not been known or seen before. New refers to something recently made, grown, or built, or recently found, invented, or discovered: a new car; new techniques. Fresh refers to something that has retained its original properties, or has not been affected by use or the passage of time: fresh strawberries; fresh ideas. Novel refers to something new that has an unexpected, strange, or striking quality, generally pleasing: a novel experience.