season

American  

[see-zuhn] / ˈsi zən /

noun

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)

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)

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

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

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

Gasoline prices nationally averaged $4.51 a gallon on Sunday and could keep climbing into Memorial Day weekend, the starting gun to the busy summer driving season.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

For now, 80-year-old Molchaniuk from Tychyna Avenue is grateful that spring finally arrived and holds the promise of a new sowing season at her dacha’s vegetable patch.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

The 52-year-old famously led Wolves out of the Championship in his first season in charge in 2017-18, and then took them into Europe, which might be appealing to West Ham's hierarchy.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

This figure is 5% higher than a year ago, boosted in part because the Alaska cruise season has just started, AAA said.

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

The light snow that had fallen was the only festive quality of the season.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• fall
• period
• summer
• time
• winter