year

American  

[yeer] / yɪər /

noun

1. a period of 365 or 366 days, in the Gregorian calendar, divided into 12 calendar months, now reckoned as beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31 calendar year, or civil year.

2. a period of approximately the same length in other calendars.

3. a space of 12 calendar months calculated from any point.

   This should have been finished a year ago.

4. Astronomy.

   1. Also called lunar year.  a division of time equal to 12 lunar months.

   2. tropical year.

   3. sidereal year.

5. the time in which any planet completes a revolution round the sun.

   the Martian year.

6. a full round of the seasons.

7. a period out of every 12 months, devoted to a certain pursuit, activity, or the like.

   the academic year.

8. years,

   1. age.

   2. old age.

      a man of years.

   3. time; period.

      the years of hardship and frustration.

   4. an unusually long period of time of indefinite length.

      I haven't spoken to them in years.

9. a group of students entering school or college, graduating, or expecting to graduate in the same year; class.

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idioms

1. year in and year out, regularly through the years; continually: Also year in, year out.

   Year in and year out they went to Florida for the winter.

2. a year and a day, a period specified as the limit of time in various legal matters, as in determining a right or a liability, to allow for a full year by any way of counting.

3. from the year one, for a very long time; as long as anyone remembers.

   He's been with the company from the year one.

year British  

/ jɪə /

noun

1. Also called: civil year.  the period of time, the calendar year , containing 365 days or in a leap year 366 days. It is based on the Gregorian calendar, being divided into 12 calendar months, and is reckoned from January 1 to December 31

2. a period of twelve months from any specified date, such as one based on the four seasons

3. a specific period of time, usually occupying a definite part or parts of a twelve-month period, used for some particular activity

   a school year

4. Also called: astronomical year.   tropical year.  the period of time, the solar year , during which the earth makes one revolution around the sun, measured between two successive vernal equinoxes: equal to 365.242 19 days

5. the period of time, the sidereal year , during which the earth makes one revolution around the sun, measured between two successive conjunctions of a particular distant star: equal to 365.256 36 days

6. the period of time, the lunar year , containing 12 lunar months and equal to 354.3671 days

7. the period of time taken by a specified planet to complete one revolution around the sun

   the Martian year

8. (plural) age, esp old age

   a man of his years should be more careful

9. (plural) time

   in years to come

10. a group of pupils or students, who are taught or study together, divided into classes at school

    they are the best year we've ever had for history

11. informal as long ago as can be remembered

12. English law a period fixed by law to ensure the completion of a full year. It is applied for certain purposes, such as to determine the time within which wrecks must be claimed

13. regularly or monotonously, over a long period

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year More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing year

• all year round
• along in years
• by the day (year)
• donkey's years

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Usage

In writing spans of years, it is important to choose a style that avoids ambiguity. The practice adopted in this dictionary is, in four-figure dates, to specify the last two digits of the second date if it falls within the same century as the first: 1801–08; 1850–51; 1899–1901 . In writing three-figure _bc dates, it is advisable to give both dates in full: 159–156 bc , not 159–56 bc unless of course the span referred to consists of 103 years rather than three years. It is also advisable to specify _bc or _ad in years under 1000 unless the context makes this self-evident

Other Word Forms

• multiyear
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of year

First recorded before 900; Middle English yeer, Old English gēar; cognate with Dutch jaar, German Jahr, Old Norse ār, Gothic jēr, Greek hôros “year,” hṓrā “season, part of a day, hour”

Example Sentences

The latest budget proposal would allocate more than $300 million for this upcoming fiscal year.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026

In an ironic twist of fate, shortly after giving his testimony he was arrested by a dedicated police unit set up earlier this year to investigate referrals and evidence arising from the inquiry.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

China had sent its defense minister, a primarily diplomatic role with no combat responsibilities, to four straight editions of the dialogue before downgrading its representation last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

Mason Edwards’ rise to elite USC pitcher and MLB draft prospect was far from certain his freshman year, but he never doubted his ability to develop.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026

She works at a school during the year, and she’s teaching music classes and lessons over at the community center this summer.”

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• age
• date
• day
• era
• future
• generation
• hour
• life
• moment
• month
• occasion
• pace
• past
• point
• present
• season
• second
• space
• stage
• term