season

1 of 2

noun

sea·​son ˈsē-zᵊn How to pronounce season (audio)
1
a
: a time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature
in a season of religious awakeningF. A. Christie
b
: a suitable or natural time or occasion
when my season comes to sit on David's throneJohn Milton
c
: an indefinite period of time : while
sent home again to her father for a seasonFrancis Hackett
2
a
: a period of the year characterized by or associated with a particular activity or phenomenon
hay fever season
: such as
(1)
: a period associated with some phase or activity of agriculture (such as growth or harvesting)
(2)
: a period in which an animal engages in some activity (such as migrating or mating)
also : estrus, heat
(3)
: the period normally characterized by a particular kind of weather
a long rainy season
(4)
: a period marked by special activity especially in some field
tourist season
hunting season
(5)
: a period in which a place is most frequented
b
: one of the four quarters into which the year is commonly divided
c
: the time of a major holiday
d
: a period of time when a series of new television shows, plays, etc., are being shown or performed
a show entering its second season
the first/best episode of the season
the season's final performance
3
: year
a boy of seven seasons
4
[Middle English sesoun, from sesounen to season] : seasoning
5
: the schedule of official games played or to be played by a sports team during a playing season
got through the season undefeated
6
: offseason
closed for the season

season

2 of 2

verb

seasoned; seasoning ˈsēz-niŋ How to pronounce season (audio)
ˈsē-zᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

1
a
: to give (food) more flavor or zest by adding seasoning or savory ingredients
b
: to give a distinctive quality to as if by seasoning
especially : to make more agreeable
advice seasoned with wit
c
archaic : to qualify by admixture : temper
2
a
: to treat (something, such as wood or a skillet) so as to prepare for use
b
: to make fit by experience
a seasoned veteran
Phrases
in season
1
: at the right time
2
: at the stage of greatest fitness (as for eating)
peaches are in season
3
: legally available to be hunted or caught
out of season
: not in season

Examples of season in a Sentence

Noun I enjoy watching the seasons change every year. These plants have a short growing season. Deer season starts next week. Monsoon season is coming soon. This season's fashions are very feminine. Pink is in style this season. The theater company will be putting on plays by Shakespeare this season. one of the shows in the network's season lineup Verb You must season the firewood. the chef seasoned the vegetables as soon as they came out of the oven
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Hard to believe Regis beat Valor, 78-72, early in the season. Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Spring is quickly approaching, which means preparing your wardrobe for the change in seasons. Rachel Trujillo, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 As the Giants look for length out of their bullpen early in the season, Melvin mentioned Carson Seymour as a starting pitching prospect would could get an opportunity in relief, but the 25-year-old acquired in the trade for Darin Ruf was reassigned to minor-league camp. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 But just about one-fourth, 25.1%, of Michigan residents have received a flu vaccine for the 2023-24 season. Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 11 Mar. 2024 The only top-tier orchestras that are playing original music by Schoenberg in the 2023-24 season are the San Francisco Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony, and the Minnesota Orchestra. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 The high school basketball season ended in Sacramento with 12 state championships earned. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 And the outdoor concert season will kick off May 11 with regional Mexican up-and-comer Panter Bélico at the BMO Pavilion, while reserved seats at the same venue for fellow regional Mexican artist Ivan Cornejo have sold out for his Summerfest show July 6. Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 Moreover, the upcoming season will introduce storytelling elements that portray the highs and lows inherent in the lives of professional dancers. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
Zoë Kravitz is closing out the awards season out in style. Stacy Lambe, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 Hush puppies are an easy side to half-heartedly serve, but these were seasoned and had just the right amount of ... chive flavor? Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2024 Baba’s is a local Palestinian restaurant with fresh and skillfully seasoned food and lucky for us its hummus is sold in a lot of grocery stores here. Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 7 Mar. 2024 As a result, a growing international presence is bound to make awards season more global — as well as establish a global film community of the future. Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 We have been seasoned CMBS investors for quite a long time, for more than a decade. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 Nadine Visser from the Netherlands will also be in the mix with a personal best of 7.77 seconds and season best of 7.78 seconds. Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Planting diverse types can mean a stabler food supply, since from season to season one crop may survive while others cannot. Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2024 Add the leeks, garlic and onion, and season generously with salt and pepper. Ali Slagle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'season.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sesoun, from Anglo-French seison natural season, appropriate time, from Latin sation-, satio action of sowing, from serere to sow — more at sow

Verb

Middle English sesounen, back-formation from sesounde flavored, from Anglo-French seisoné brought to a desired state, from seison

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of season was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near season

Cite this Entry

“Season.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/season. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

season

1 of 2 noun
sea·​son ˈsēz-ᵊn How to pronounce season (audio)
1
a
: a suitable or natural time or occasion
a season for all things
b
: an indefinite period of time : while
willing to wait a season
2
a
: a period of the year associated with something in particular that happens every year
the baseball season
b
: a period marked by special activity especially in some field
tourist season
c
: a period in which a place is most often visited
d
: one of the four quarters into which the year is commonly divided compare autumn sense 1, spring, summer entry 1 sense 1, winter sense 1
e
: the time of a major holiday
3
4
: the schedule of official games played or to be played by a sports team during a playing season
got through the season undefeated

season

2 of 2 verb
seasoned; seasoning ˈsēz-niŋ How to pronounce season (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
1
: to make pleasant to the taste by adding seasoning
a seasoned stew
2
a
: to make or become suitable for use (as by drying)
season lumber
b
: to make fit by experience
a seasoned sailor
seasoner
ˈsēz-nər
-ᵊn-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on season

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