season

American  

[see-zuhn] / ˈsi zən /

noun

seasons plural

1. one of the four periods of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice, but geographically at different dates in different climates.

2. a period of the year characterized by particular conditions of weather, temperature, etc..

   the rainy season.

3. a period of the year when something is best or available.

   the oyster season.

4. a period of the year marked by certain conditions, activities, etc..

   baseball season.

5. a period of the year immediately before and after a special holiday or occasion.

   the Christmas season.

6. Sports.

   1. a period with reference to the total number of games to be played by a team.

      a 162-game season.

   2. a period with reference to the won-lost record of a team after it has completed its schedule.

      a .700 season.

7. any period or time.

   in the season of my youth.

8. a suitable, proper, fitting, or right time.

   This is not the season for frivolity.

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verb (used with object)

seasons, present (3rd person singular) seasoned, past participle, past seasoning present participle

1. to heighten or improve the flavor of (food) by adding condiments, spices, herbs, or the like.

2. to give relish or a certain character to.

   conversation seasoned with wit.

3. to mature, ripen, or condition by exposure to suitable conditions or treatment.

   a writer seasoned by experience.

4. to dry or otherwise treat (lumber) so as to harden and render immune to shrinkage, warpage, etc.

5. to accustom or harden.

   troops seasoned by battle.

verb (used without object)

seasons, present (3rd person singular) seasoned, past participle, past seasoning present participle

1. to become seasoned, matured, hardened, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   toughen, harden, mature

idioms

1. out of season, not in season.

   The price is so high because lilacs are out of season now.

2. in good season, in enough time; sufficiently early.

   Applicants will be notified of our decision in good season.

3. for a season, for a time, especially a short time.

   He lived in Paris for a season.

4. in season,

   1. in the time or state for use, eating, etc..

      Asparagus is now in season.

   2. in the period regulated by law, as for hunting and fishing.

   3. at the right time; opportunely.

   4. (of an animal, especially female) in a state of readiness for mating; in heat.

   5. in good season.

5. in season and out of season, regardless of time or season; at all times.

   Misfortunes plague this family in season and out of season.

season British  

/ ˈsiːzən /

noun

1. one of the four equal periods into which the year is divided by the equinoxes and solstices, resulting from the apparent movement of the sun north and south of the equator during the course of the earth's orbit around it. These periods (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) have their characteristic weather conditions in different regions, and occur at opposite times of the year in the N and S hemispheres

2. a period of the year characterized by particular conditions or activities

   the rainy season

3. the period during which any particular species of animal, bird, or fish is legally permitted to be caught or killed

   open season on red deer

4. a period during which a particular entertainment, sport, etc, takes place

   a season at the National Theatre

   the football season

   the tourist season

5. (esp formerly) a period of fashionable social events in a particular place

   the London season

6. any definite or indefinite period

7. any of the major periods into which the ecclesiastical calendar is divided, such as Lent, Advent, or Easter

8. (sometimes capital) Christmas (esp in the phrases compliments of the season, Season's greetings )

9. a period or time that is considered proper, suitable, or natural for something

10. early enough

11. 1. (of game) permitted to be caught or killed

    2. (of fresh food) readily available

    3. Also: in heat.   on heat.  (of some female mammals) sexually receptive

    4. appropriate

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verb

1. (tr) to add herbs, salt, pepper, or spice to (food)

2. (tr) to add zest to

3. (in the preparation of timber) to undergo or cause to undergo drying

4. (tr; usually passive) to make or become mature or experienced

   seasoned troops

5. (tr) to mitigate or temper

   to season one's admiration with reticence

season Scientific  

/ sē′zən /

1. One of four natural divisions of the year—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—in temperate zones. Each season has its own characteristic weather and lasts approximately three months. The change in the seasons is brought about by the shift in the angle at which the Sun's rays strike the Earth. This angle changes as the Earth orbits in its yearly cycle around the Sun due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. For example, when the northern or southern hemisphere of the Earth is at an angle predominantly facing the Sun and has more daylight hours of direct, overhead sunlight than nighttime hours, it is in its summer season; the opposite hemisphere is in then opposite condition and is in its winter season.

2. See also equinox solstice

3. In some tropical climates, either of the two divisions—rainy and dry—into which the year is divided. These divisions are defined on the basis of levels of precipitation.

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season More Idioms  

1. see in season; open season.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preseason
  noun
• seasoner
  noun
• reseason
  verb
• overseason
  verb (used with object)
• nonseasoned
  adjective
• postseason
  adjective
• seasoned
  adjective
• seasonless
  adjective
• well-seasoned
  adjective
• seasonedly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• seasons
  plural

Participles

• seasoning
  present
• seasoned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• season
  simple
• seasons
  simple
• have seasoned
  perfect
• has seasoned
  perfect
• am seasoning
  progressive
• are seasoning
  progressive
• is seasoning
  progressive
• have been seasoning
  perfect progressive
• has been seasoning
  perfect progressive

Past

• seasoned
  simple
• had seasoned
  perfect
• was seasoning
  progressive
• were seasoning
  progressive
• had been seasoning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will season
  simple
• will have seasoned
  perfect
• will be seasoning
  progressive
• will have been seasoning
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of season

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the noun) Middle English seso(u)n, from Old French se(i)son, from Latin satiōn-, stem of satiō “a sowing” (in Vulgar Latin: “sowing time”), from sa-, variant stem of serere “to sow” + -tiō -tion; (for the verb) Middle English seso(u)nen, from Old French saisonner “to ripen, make palatable by aging,” derivative of se(i)son

Explanation

A season is one of the four parts of a year. Those four seasons are spring, summer, fall, and winter. There’s also baseball season, the Christmas season, and according to the Zombies, there’s always the “Time of the Season” for love. Seasons are marked by the Earth's position in relation to the sun — so when it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it's winter in the Southern Hemisphere. In temperate places, winter is cold, spring marks the birth of plants and animals, summer is warm, and in autumn temperatures get cooler again. You can also use season to mean "period of the year" or "time when a sport is played." As a verb, it means "add flavor."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

season seasons seasoned seasoning

We cannot lose a manager and our main striker and expect to carry on from where last season left off.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

New York Times columnist Ross Douthat will join the program’s 59th season as a correspondent and author and documentarian Sebastian Junger as a contributor, Bilton said in a memo to staff Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Entering his fifth and most pivotal season yet at USC, their father can relate to that sentiment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Setting the tone for the season ahead, particularly after such a lacklustre start, is vital, with a performance now just as important as the result.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Nothing for sale in the market except from the farmers, and it’s too early in the season for there to be much of that.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

Through 1953 National League Rookie of the Year Jim Gilliam, who spent three seasons with the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers, Baker met several Negro League greats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Saints beat Exeter to lift the trophy for the second time in three seasons in June and start the new campaign at home on Friday, 25 September.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

The offensive line also looks like Riley’s strongest unit yet in five seasons.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

The tactic of gaining a timeout as the keeper is treated has become increasingly common and controversial in recent seasons.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Back then, as the seasons had changed, I imagined my father less and less, until his face blurred in my mind like a reflection cast on restless waters.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

The doubts, per usual, are on defense, where the Trojans are not the most seasoned group.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

The best crowd surfing of the day came thanks to a seasoned, white-haired fest attendee in a bike helmet who was getting tossed around like a white-water rafter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Wet noodles and seasoned water were quick and satisfying.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

He later launched his podcast Legends of News, speaking to other seasoned journalists and correspondents about major stories they had covered.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

He knew how to prepare a few French dishes, perfectly seasoned and magnificently presented, which were his contribution whenever there were guests for dinner.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Hidden Valley saw a 7% bump in monthly sales of its own travel-friendly dry seasoning, dressing and recipe mix.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

When he shows up in a Depression-era soup line, you just know he’s going to complain about the seasoning.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

The woman claimed that the street vendor had thrown the Mexican seasoning — Tajin — on her face.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Another company, Ajinomoto, uses byproducts from its world-famous umami seasoning to create insulating film for AI chips.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

They ate the roasted birds, seasoning them with lemon juice, and then another witch brought some blueberries she’d found below the screen, and then the witches gathered around the fire.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• fall
• period
• summer
• time
• winter