winter

American  

[win-ter] / ˈwɪn tər /

noun

1. the cold season between autumn and spring in northern latitudes (in the Northern Hemisphere from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox; in the Southern Hemisphere from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox).

2. the months of December, January, and February in the U.S., and of November, December, and January in Great Britain.

3. cold weather.

   a touch of winter in northern Florida.

4. the colder half of the year (summer ).

5. a whole year as represented by this season.

   a man of sixty winters.

6. a period like winter, as the last or final period of life; a period of decline, decay, inertia, dreariness, or adversity.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of winter.

   a winter sunset.

2. (of fruit and vegetables) of a kind that may be kept for use during the winter.

3. planted in the autumn to be harvested in the spring or early summer.

   winter rye.

verb (used without object)

1. to spend or pass the winter.

   to winter in Italy.

2. to keep, feed, or manage during the winter, as plants or cattle.

   plants wintering indoors.

winter British  

/ ˈwɪntə /

noun

1. 1. (sometimes capital) the coldest season of the year, between autumn and spring, astronomically from the December solstice to the March equinox in the N hemisphere and at the opposite time of year in the S hemisphere

   2. ( as modifier )

      winter pasture

2. the period of cold weather associated with the winter

3. a time of decline, decay, etc

4. poetic a year represented by this season

   a man of 72 winters

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verb

1. (intr) to spend the winter in a specified place

2. to keep or feed (farm animals, etc) during the winter or (of farm animals) to be kept or fed during the winter

Other Word Forms

• winterer noun
• winterish adjective
• winterishly adverb
• winterless adjective

Etymology

Origin of winter

before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English; cognate with German Winter, Old Norse vetr, Gothic wintrus; (v.) Middle English, derivative of the noun; akin to wet, water

Explanation

Winter is the coldest season of the year, often bringing snow, shorter days, longer nights, and cloudy gray skies. The word winter describes the season when temperatures drop, and the days grow shorter. It’s a time when nature slows down — trees lose their leaves, animals hibernate, and people bundle up in warm clothes. In some places, winter means snow-covered landscapes, snowball fights, and cozy nights spent by a warm fire, while in others, it might simply mean cooler weather than usual.

Example Sentences

But this winter, the Nationals took a bold step in an effort to fix their problems.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

A large share of that water begins as snow in the mountains, building up during winter before melting in spring.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

On the other extreme, this winter was also unusually cold, Hanes noted, opening new passages over Arctic waters that had not previously frozen over in recent memory.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

The wet winter of 2023 in particular was a big help.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

I was on a hundred-mile run in deep winter with new dogs—pups, really, just over a year old.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• cold