season
gb/sˈizən/ us/sˈizən/
A2
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Part of the year by climate
One of the four parts of the year with different weather and temperature.
Usage pattern:
[season] + is + [adjective]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'season' with 'weather'. 'Weather' describes current conditions, while 'season' refers to a longer period of months.
Synonyms
time of year (A neutral phrase describing a specific period within the year.)
Antonyms
off-season (Describes a time of year when an activity, place, or business is less active or closed.)
Collocations
rainy season
|holiday season
|peak season
|off season
|winter season
Themes
nature
|daily life
|time
|weather
Examples
- Winter is my favorite season because I love snow.
- The holiday season is always busy for retailers.
- In this part of the world, the rainy season lasts from June to September.
- Spring is the perfect season for planting flowers.
- Tourism peaks during the summer season.
Learner examples
- Winter is cold in my country.
- I like the summer season.
- The rainy season starts in June.
- Spring is a good season for flowers.
Verb
A2
action
2
Add flavoring to food
To make food taste better by adding salt, herbs, or spices.
Usage pattern:
to season [food] with [ingredient]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'season' (verb) with 'season' (noun) about time of year. Context helps to avoid this mistake.
Synonyms
flavor (More general; can mean to give any taste to food, not just by seasoning.)
Antonyms
bland (Describes food without strong taste or seasoning.)
Collocations
season generously
|season lightly
|season with salt
|season to taste
Themes
cooking
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper before roasting.
- She seasoned the soup with fresh herbs.
- Always season meat before grilling for better flavor.
- The chef seasoned the salad with olive oil and lemon juice.
Learner examples
- Please season the rice with salt.
- I season my eggs with pepper.
- She seasons the soup with herbs.
Noun
A2
relation
3
Period for specific activity
A time in the year when something happens a lot or is popular.
Usage pattern:
[activity/event] + season
Synonyms
period (More general; does not imply yearly recurrence.)
Antonyms
off-season (The time when an activity is not happening or is less active.)
Collocations
football season
|ski season
|harvest season
|fishing season
Themes
daily life
|sports
|business
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The football season starts in September.
- Strawberry season is short but sweet.
- Ski season attracts many tourists to the mountains.
- It's hunting season in this region right now.
Learner examples
- The football season starts in September.
- I like ski season.
- It is fishing season now.
Verb
B1
action
4
Prepare for use by treatment
To make something ready to use by treating it in a special way.
Usage pattern:
to season [object] before use
Synonyms
treat (More general; can apply to any form of preparation or processing.)
Collocations
season a pan
|season timber
Themes
cooking
|crafts
|daily_life
|work
Examples
- You should season a new cast-iron skillet before cooking in it.
- The carpenter seasoned the wood to prevent warping.
- They seasoned the pan with oil and heat.
Learner examples
- I will season the new pan before cooking.
- We must season the wood before building.
Grammar
Dictionary form
season
IPA
GB/sˈizən/
US/sˈizən/
Syllables & stress
sea - son (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sea)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: season
- Plural: seasons
Verb
- Base: season
- 3rd Person Singular: seasons
- Present Participle: seasoning
- Past: seasoned
Word family
Forms
seasons
noun
seasoning
verb
seasoned
verb
Core family
seasonal
adjective B2
Related words
seasonally
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unseasonal
adjective
unseasoned
adjective
Advanced or less common
seasonable
adjective
unseasonable
adjective
Expressions
'tis the season
1/tˈɪz ðə sˈizən/
idiom
informal
It's that special time of year
It is the time of year when certain things usually happen, especially holidays and celebrations.
Examples
- 'Tis the season for gift-giving and family gatherings.
- With all the lights and music, you can tell 'tis the season.
in season
1/ˈɪn sˈizən/
fixed phrase
Available at right time of year
Available at the right time of year for eating or using.
Examples
- Strawberries are cheaper when they are in season.
- It's illegal to hunt deer that are not in season.
out of season
1/ˈaʊt əv sˈizən/
fixed phrase
Not available at right time of year
Not at the right time of year for eating or using.
Examples
- Mangoes are expensive when they are out of season.
- Fishing for salmon is banned when they are out of season.