New Year's Eve

American  

noun

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

---

New Year's Eve British  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of New Year's Eve

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

New Year's Eve

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

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

The area is already a major tourist attraction, as well as a giant advertising platform with its bright screens, and is traditionally the setting for celebrations including New Year's Eve.

From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026

But unlike on New Year's Eve, the ball will drop eight times to mark midnight in each of the American time zones, and each time with its own special design, according to America250.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

Helmuth attends a church dance on New Year's Eve but doesn't enjoy himself.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti