New Year's Eve

American

noun

the night of December 31, often celebrated with merrymaking to usher in the new year at midnight.

New Year's Eve British

noun

the evening of Dec 31, often celebrated with parties See also Hogmanay

"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

Etymology

Origin of New Year's Eve

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

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:

New Year's Eve

Before Shane graduated high school, the last time Chevy Metal played a hometown show was at the Viper Room on New Year’s Eve.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

We tend to think of ambitious centerpiece proteins as the terrain of cold-weather holidays: the Thanksgiving turkey, the glazed ham or the New Year’s Eve prime rib.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

Thea Barratt, who runs Cramptons Sports Bar in Broadstairs, Kent, said: "I took more money than I did on New Year's Eve."

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

Some might associate sparkling wine mostly with special occasions, like wedding toasts or New Year’s Eve.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

Because what else do I have to do on New Year’s Eve now that Charlie is gone?

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023