April

[ ey-pruhl ]

/ ˈeɪ prəl /

Save This Word!

noun

the fourth month of the year, containing 30 days. Abbreviation: Apr.

a female given name.

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of April

First recorded before 1150; Middle English, from Latin Aprīlis (adjective, as modifying mēnsis “month”), probably based on Etruscan apru “Aphrodite,” from Greek Aphrodítē; replacing Middle English Averil (from Old French avril, from Latin ), in its turn replacing late Old English aprilis (from Latin )

Words nearby April

après moi le déluge, Apresoline, après-ski, pretty penny, a, apricot, April, April fool, April Fools' Day, April showers bring May flowers, a priori, apriorism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT APRIL

What is April?

April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It has 30 days and is between March and May.

April is the middle month of spring for the Northern Hemisphere and autumn for the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the temperature generally rises throughout the month, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it generally lowers.

Much like May, June, and August, April is often used as a given name. It is typically a given name for women.

Example: I always donate a lot of my clothes in April as a part of spring cleaning.

Where does April come from?

The first records of the term April come from before 1150. It comes from the classical Latin Aprīlis and may come from the Etruscan apru, meaning “Aphrodite,” the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

If April is named after Aphrodite, it is one of only a few months to be named after a Greek god. Many more months were named after Roman gods. Aphrodite is often symbolized by roses, doves, and sparrows, all of which would be visible and vibrant during April in the Northern Hemisphere.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to April?

Apr. (abbreviation)

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

Aphrodite

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

How is April used in real life?

Because April is a month in the Gregorian calendar, it is commonly used in both speech and writing.

today. i wasn’t a very good dog

april fools. i was so good

— Thoughts of Dog® (@dog_feelings) April 2, 2018

my album comes out April 27

— twelve carat toothache (@PostMalone) April 5, 2018

Its almost April and its FREEZING in NewYork

— Shawn Mendes (@ShawnMendes) March 23, 2015

Try using April!

True or False?

April comes in the autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

How to use April in a sentence

The company’s revenue grew 90 percent from April through September and has continued on a similar rate since, he said.
Online wine sales continue to grow, but can they — or should they — replace local shops?|Dave McIntyre|February 26, 2021|Washington Post
If trends continue, Northam said, the state plans to remove the 1,000-person cap for outdoor venues by April.
D.C.’s pandemic toll surpasses 1,000 as Bowser announces her sister’s death|Rebecca Tan, Jenna Portnoy|February 24, 2021|Washington Post
Writing in Newsweek in April, he argued that telemedicine, not the emergency room, should be the front line of pandemic care, since it could serve people who might be infected while protecting nurses and doctors from exposure.
The doctor will Zoom you now|Katie McLean|February 24, 2021|MIT Technology Review
By sales, Zara and H&M are still bigger, but while their share prices have fluctuated through the global turmoil brought about by Covid-19, Fast Retailing’s stock has been on a steady rise since April.
How Uniqlo became the world’s most valuable clothing company|Marc Bain|February 22, 2021|Quartz

This could all be interesting come April, when the NCAA’s selection committee will be tasked with comparing apples to ham sandwiches.
James Madison’s football team is set for its first of two 2021 seasons. Just roll with it.|Barry Svrluga|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
Her latest book, Heretic: The Case for a Muslim Reformation, will be published in April by HarperCollins.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Reached Tuesday, a Sitrick Co. rep confirmed they parted ways with Epstein in April 2011.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It was known as the feast of Akitu, and it was celebrated in April.
New Year’s Eve, Babylon Style|Candida Moss|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Scratch a liberal, find a fascist every time,” Woods tweeted in April.
How James Woods Became Obama’s Biggest Twitter Troll|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In response, the April Revolution protests erupted in much of the country.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are three things a wise man will not trust: the wind, the sunshine of an April day, and woman's plighted faith.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
One evening in the month of April, a slim, straight-backed girl stood in the veranda of a bungalow at Meerut.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
One day in April the thermometer suddenly rose to eighteen above the freezing-point of Fahrenheit.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
A clock was put above the spot where the fountain stood, in April, 1852, which cost £60.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
The south tunnel in New Street was blocked April 18, 1877, by a locomotive turning over.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

British Dictionary definitions for April

April

/ (ˈeɪprəl) /

noun

the fourth month of the year, consisting of 30 days

Word Origin for April

C14: from Latin Aprīlis, probably of Etruscan origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012