new
Americanadjective
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newer,
comparative
-
newest
superlative
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of recent origin, production, purchase, etc.; having but lately come or been brought into being.
a new book.
-
of a kind now existing or appearing for the first time; novel.
a new concept of the universe.
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having but lately or but now come into knowledge.
a new chemical element.
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unfamiliar or strange (often followed byto ): to visit new lands.
ideas new to us;
to visit new lands.
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having but lately come to a place, position, status, etc..
a reception for our new minister.
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unaccustomed (usually followed byto ).
people new to such work.
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coming or occurring afresh; further; additional.
new gains.
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fresh or unused.
to start a new sheet of paper.
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(of physical or moral qualities) different and better.
The vacation made a new man of him.
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other than the former or the old: in the New World.
a new era;
in the New World.
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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.
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(initial capital letter) (of a language) in its latest known period, especially as a living language at the present time.
New High German.
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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
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recently or lately (usually used in combination).
The valley was green with new-planted crops.
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freshly; anew or afresh (often used in combination): new-mown hay.
roses new washed with dew;
new-mown hay.
noun
adjective
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recently made or brought into being
a new dress
our new baby
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( as collective noun; preceded by the )
the new
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of a kind never before existing; novel
a new concept in marketing
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having existed before but only recently discovered
a new comet
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markedly different from what was before
the new liberalism
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fresh and unused; not second-hand
a new car
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(prenominal) having just or recently become
a new bride
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recently introduced (to); inexperienced (in) or unaccustomed (to)
new to this neighbourhood
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(capital in names or titles) more or most recent of two or more things with the same name
the New Testament
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(prenominal) fresh; additional
I'll send some new troops
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(often foll by to) unknown; novel
this is new to me
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(of a cycle) beginning or occurring again
a new year
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(prenominal) (of crops) harvested early
new carrots
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changed, esp for the better
she returned a new woman from her holiday
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up-to-date; fashionable
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(capital when part of a name; prenominal) being the most recent, usually living, form of a language
New High German
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the new vogue
comedy is the new rock'n'roll
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to reform; make a fresh start
adverb
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recently, freshly
new-laid eggs
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anew; again
Pronunciation
Following the alveolar consonants , , and , 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. immediately follows the alveolar consonant: , , , and . In the South Midland and Southern U. S., pronunciations of the type , , , and predominate. Both these types are traceable to England, as well as some less common ones, for example, those in which the high front vowel substitutes for the . A belief that the 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 for noon. Currently in the United States, a following , , , and , as in sue , resume , enthusiasm , and illusion , is used by some speakers, but is considered an affectation by others.
Usage
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.
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of new
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
Explanation
If something's new, it has never been seen or discovered or invented before. Anything can be new: a country, an idea, a product. If you spend half an hour watching TV, you'll see an incredible selection of new items being advertised. There are lots of shades of meaning attached to new. For example, by its very nature something that's new is unfamiliar, and the two words are often used interchangeably. New can also mean something different from what has gone before — as in a new political strategy — or, as advertising would have you believe, something fresh and original, like that new and improved version of your favorite laundry detergent you just bought.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
However, his first season was disrupted by injuries, managerial changes and the difficulty of adapting to a new league and environment as he failed to make England's World Cup squad.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
The aging grid has also hampered the new solar parks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Knox gave tours of the renovations the school has undertaken, and the event also highlighted the soon-to-be football stadium and new basketball gym.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
Back then, the village hall was only expected to last up to 20 years so villagers set to build a new one.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
Early in the new year, he hands them over to an extremely grateful and very excited Dr. Harlow in Massachusetts.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
"We usually rent newer houses that are a blank canvas so we can make them our own, although this last season the accommodation was provided furnished by Argyle," she says.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
They require “an investment that we make in driving ubiquity of these newer services.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
But he is more skeptical of some newer premium branding.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
That newer Ridge Route got upgraded 10 or 12 years after it opened, but in time it was left in the mountain dust by the I-5 in 1970.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
Then he traded that for a used car, for a boat, for a newer car, and so on.
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
Quantinuum and Infleqtion report earnings next week, giving investors their first major look at two of the newest public quantum-computing companies.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
The newest addition is Infinity Vision, Disney’s certification program for “Avengers: Doomsday.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
The Dodgers’ newest star arrived Sunday and was in the Dodgers’ dugout during the game, exchanging pleasantries with his new teammates and coaches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Sometimes they featured celebrities recounting past glories or promoting their newest releases.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
I text Mom pictures of all my newest sketches as soon as I hang up the phone.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
