new

[ noo, nyoo ]

/ nu, nyu /

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See synonyms for: new / newer / newest / news on Thesaurus.com

adjective, new·er, new·est.

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.

having but lately or but now come into knowledge: a new chemical element.

unfamiliar or strange (often followed by to): ideas new to us; to visit new lands.

having but lately come to a place, position, status, etc.: a reception for our new minister.

unaccustomed (usually followed by to): people new to such work.

coming or occurring afresh; further; additional: new gains.

fresh or unused: to start a new sheet of paper.

(of physical or moral qualities) different and better: The vacation made a new man of him.

other than the former or the old: a new era; in the New World.

being the later or latest of two or more things of the same kind: the New Testament; a new edition of Shakespeare.

(initial capital letter) (of a language) in its latest known period, especially as a living language at the present time: New High German.

the new, designating the newly fashionable, trendy, or popular thing, replacing or equaling the success of a specified previous one: 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

recently or lately (usually used in combination): The valley was green with new-planted crops.

freshly; anew or afresh (often used in combination): roses new washed with dew; new-mown hay.

noun

something that is new; a new object, quality, condition, etc.: Ring out the old, ring in the new.

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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

synonym study for new

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.

how to pronounce new

Following the alveolar consonants [t], /t/, [d], /d/, and [n], /n/, 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. [oo] /u/ immediately follows the alveolar consonant: [stood-nt], /ˈstud nt/, [doo], /du/, [nood], /nud/, and [noo]. /nu/. In the South Midland and Southern U.S., pronunciations of the type [styood-nt], /ˈstyud nt/, [dyoo], /dyu/, [nyood], /nyud/, and [nyoo] /nyu/ predominate. Both these types are traceable to England, as well as some less common ones, for example, those in which the high front vowel [i] /ɪ/ substitutes for the [y]. /y/. A belief that the [yoo] /yu/ 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 [nyoon] /nyun/ for noon. Currently in the United States, a [y] /y/ following [s], /s/, [z], /z/, [th], /θ/, and [l], /l/, as in sue [syoo], /syu/, resume [ri-zyoom], /rɪˈzyum/, enthusiasm [en-thyoo-see-az-uhm], /ɛnˈθyu siˌæz əm/, and illusion [ih-lyoo-zhuhn], /ɪˈlyu ʒən/, is used by some speakers, but is considered an affectation by others.

OTHER WORDS FROM new

new·ness, nounqua·si-new, adjectivequa·si-new·ly, adverbun·new, adjective

un·new·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH new

gnu, knew, new

Words nearby new

Nevinnomyssk, Nevins, Nevis, Nevski, nevus, new, New Age, New Age music, New Albany, New American Bible, New Amsterdam

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

MORE ABOUT NEW

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.

Where does new come from?

The first records of the word new come from before the 900s. It comes from the Old English nēowe and is related to the Gothic niujis, the Old Norse nȳr, and the Latin novus.

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What are some other forms related to new?

newness (noun)
newly (adverb)

What are some synonyms for new?

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

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

How is new used in real life?

New is a very common word that is used to refer to things that haven’t been around for very long or that are original creations.

I love the smell of new shoes 😂🥴

— Mylo☃️ (@MiloAhmeirrr) November 25, 2020

Spike Lee's new movie is very, very well timed. That's all I can say without breaking the embargo.

— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) June 11, 2020

Learned a new acronym … FAANG

Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google

Probably old news, new to me.

— Sarah Doody (@sarahdoody) November 23, 2020

Try using new!

Is new used correctly in the following sentence?

The ice cream shop is always coming up with new flavors that no one has ever tasted before.

How to use new in a sentence

However, the Postal Service was just starting to adapt to DeJoy’s new transportation schedule, with on-time delivery rates rebounding, according to data submitted to lawmakers.
Federal judge issues temporary injunction against USPS operational changes amid concerns about mail slowdowns|Elise Viebeck, Jacob Bogage|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Last week, Senate Republicans tried to turn the tables and pass their own, much slimmer version of coronavirus aid, with $300 billion in new spending.
Why House Democrats have good reason to be anxious about no coronavirus relief deal|Amber Phillips|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
None of this is a new problem, but it’s exacerbated in a pandemic.
Vote by mail: Which states allow absentee voting|Kate Rabinowitz, Brittany Mayes|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
In June, Red Ventures announced a partnership with Time to launch a new version of NextAdvisor, a personal finance brand Red Ventures acquired when it purchased BankRate in 2017.
‘Helping people discover information’: How Red Ventures grew into a giant|Max Willens|September 16, 2020|Digiday

In June, the publisher launched its new retail marketplace, the Pro Shop, as an extension of the affiliate business it created at the end of 2019.
‘One endless loop’: How Golf is using its new retail marketplace as a first-party data play|Kayleigh Barber|September 16, 2020|Digiday
But the enemy of the new emirs is neither the Jew nor the Christian, it is the godless militant defending secularism.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The influential al Qaeda propagandist, who was born in New Mexico, died in a U.S. drone strike later that year.
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers|Nico Hines|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Back in New York, the slow pace and inward focus of her yoga practice was less fulfilling.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Allegations of transphobia are not new in the world of gay online dating.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
With all that said, representation of each of these respective communities has increased in the new Congress.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Descending the Alps to the east or south into Piedmont, a new world lies around and before you.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Here began indeed, in the drab surroundings of the workshop, in the silent mystery of the laboratory, the magic of the new age.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Joe looked at her with a smile, his face still solemn and serious for all its youth and the fires of new-lit hope behind his eyes.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
There seems something in that also which I could spare only very reluctantly from a new Bible in the world.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
We should have to admit that the new law does little or nothing to relieve such a situation.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips

British Dictionary definitions for new

new

/ (njuː) /

adjective

recently made or brought into beinga new dress; our new baby
(as collective noun; preceded by the)the new

of a kind never before existing; novela new concept in marketing

having existed before but only recently discovereda new comet

markedly different from what was beforethe new liberalism

fresh and unused; not second-handa new car

(prenominal) having just or recently becomea new bride

(often foll by to or at) recently introduced (to); inexperienced (in) or unaccustomed (to)new to this neighbourhood

(capital in names or titles) more or most recent of two or more things with the same namethe New Testament

(prenominal) fresh; additionalI'll send some new troops

(often foll by to) unknown; novelthis is new to me

(of a cycle) beginning or occurring againa new year

(prenominal) (of crops) harvested earlynew carrots

changed, esp for the bettershe returned a new woman from her holiday

up-to-date; fashionable

(capital when part of a name; prenominal) being the most recent, usually living, form of a languageNew High German

the new the new voguecomedy is the new rock'n'roll

turn over a new leaf to reform; make a fresh start

adverb (usually in combination)

recently, freshlynew-laid eggs

anew; again

Other words from new

Related prefix: neo-

Derived forms of new

newness, noun

Word Origin for new

Old English nīowe; related to Gothic niujis, Old Norse naujas, Latin novus

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with new

new

In addition to the idioms beginning with new

new ballgame
new blood
new broom sweeps clean, a
new leaf
new lease on life
new man
new one
new person
new woman
new wrinkle

also see:

break (new) ground
breathe new life into
feel like (new)
nothing new under the sun
teach an old dog new tricks
turn over a new leaf
what's cooking (new)
whole new ballgame