: of, relating to, or characteristic of autumn
autumnal weather
autumnal colors
the autumnal equinox
I am often surprised to see rising amid these trees the rounded tops of apple-trees glowing with red or yellow fruit, in harmony with the autumnal tints of the forest.—Henry David Thoreau
autumnally adverb
These days on the verge of winter were autumnally fair, struck through with warmth until the swift lengthening of the shadows. —John Updike

Examples of autumnal in a Sentence

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.
The collection follows a very classic autumnal color palette, with speckles of burgundy, brown, khaki, and deep greens. — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2026 Kravitz wore another effortless autumnal street style look on set that was built on a rich color contrast of deep berry tones and neutral black basics, creating a cozy, layered look. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 Kate contrasted her darker base with golden highlights, subtly brightening up the autumnal hue. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 22 Oct. 2026 Below, just in time to savor the cozy autumnal days ahead of us, Przystup shares her rituals for making the most of the fall. — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for autumnal

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin autumnālis, from autumnus autumn + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Autumnal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autumnal. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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