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.

Example Sentences

“I’d like to think that I’m thoroughly enjoying my new ‘residence,’ and that the countless rumors that there is a big working ‘studio in the sky’ are true,” the note continued.

From Los Angeles Times

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the pick had “spooked” shareholders, despite questions about how the new administration might pursue its threats.

From BBC

A norovirus outbreak was also seen on P&O's Aurora around the same time, new figures have revealed.

From BBC

It’s hard to perfect, and still new to tennis myself, I’m afraid I’ll never get it.

From Los Angeles Times

In the brave new world, you do not have to pay for CNN or the Hallmark Channel just to see your favorite baseball team.

From Los Angeles Times

More About New

What is a basic definition of new?

New describes something that only now exists or has been around for only a short time. New also describes something that has just appeared for the first time or that is unfamiliar. New has several other senses as an adjective, adverb, and a noun.

If something is new, it has only been around for a short time. This sense of new is the opposite of old.

Real-life examples: Most stores sell products that are brand-new—they have never been used or opened. The internet is a relatively new invention as it has only existed since the late 1960s. Other technologies are much newer.

Used in a sentence: The agent showed off the new houses that were built last week. 

New also describes something that just now exists for the first time. In this sense, something is new if it is a completely unique creation.

Real-life examples: Companies are always creating new products. Science and technology constantly lead to new ideas.

Used in a sentence: Fans are happy that the author is writing a new book. 

New can describe something that is unfamiliar or strange. This sense is often written in the form of “new to.”

Real-life examples: People often try things that are new to them, meaning they have never experienced them before, such as new foods, books, TV shows, or hobbies.

Used in a sentence: Golf was new to me when I joined the club, but I grew to enjoy the sport over the years.

Where does new come from?

The first records of the word new come from before the 900s. It comes from the Old English nēowe and is related to the Gothic niujis, the Old Norse nȳr, and the Latin novus.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to new?

• newness (noun)
• newly (adverb)

What are some synonyms for new?

• recent
• fresh
• current
• modern
• unfamiliar
• unique
• unusual

What are some words that share a root or word element with new? 

• brand new
• news
• newborn
• new lease on life
• turn over a new leaf

What are some words that often get used in discussing new?

• life
• home
• ideas
• brand
• nothing
• anything

How is new used in real life?

New is a very common word that is used to refer to things that haven’t been around for very long or that are original creations.

I love the smell of new shoes 😂🥴

— Mylo☃️ (@MiloAhmeirrr) November 25, 2020

Spike Lee's new movie is very, very well timed. That's all I can say without breaking the embargo.

— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) June 11, 2020

Learned a new acronym … FAANG

Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google

Probably old news, new to me.

— Sarah Doody (@sarahdoody) November 23, 2020

 

 

Try using new!

Is new used correctly in the following sentence?

The ice cream shop is always coming up with new flavors that no one has ever tasted before.