autumn

noun

au·​tumn ˈȯ-təm How to pronounce autumn (audio)
Synonyms of autumnnext
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 of autumn

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In late September, the aspens covering the summit turn from green to amber gold, transforming the mountainside into an astonishing display of autumn color. — Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 Foliage rustles in the autumn wind here, and where there aren’t corn husks swaying, there are flat, lonely expanses of dirt where crops have been harvested. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026 Beer says that the main transmission route of viruses of the Simbu serogroup are biting midges, which can rapidly spread infections, especially in the summer and autumn. — Sahas Mehra, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026 While tornado activity is most prominent in the springtime, autumn can bring a secondary peak — and the twisters can be even stronger and more dangerous. — Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for autumn

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of autumn was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing autumn

Rhymes for autumn

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Browse Nearby Words

autres temps, autres mœurs
autumn
autumn Adonis
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Cite this Entry

“Autumn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autumn. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

autumn

noun
au·​tumn ˈȯt-əm How to pronounce autumn (audio)
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 How to pronounce autumn (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on autumn

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about autumn

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