winter
gb/wˈɪntɚ/ us/wˈɪntɚ/
A1
English
~ 1400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
event
1
The coldest season of the year
The time of the year when it is very cold, between autumn and spring.
Usage pattern:
[something] happens in (the) winter
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'in winter' with 'on winter' or 'at winter'; the correct preposition is 'in'.
Synonyms
cold season (A descriptive phrase rather than a single word; less formal.)
Antonyms
summer (The warmest season, opposite in climate to winter.)
Collocations
harsh winter
|mild winter
|winter months
|winter sports
|winter coat
Themes
weather
|nature
|daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We had a lot of snow last winter.
- Winter in this region can be very harsh.
- I love going skiing during the winter months.
- Many animals hibernate in winter.
- The days are much shorter in winter.
Learner examples
- Winter is very cold here.
- I wear a big coat in winter.
- Winter comes after autumn.
- We play inside in winter.
- It often snows in winter.
Verb
B1
action
2
Spend the winter in a place
To live or stay somewhere for the whole winter.
Usage pattern:
to winter [somewhere]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'hibernate', which refers specifically to animals sleeping through winter.
Synonyms
overwinter (More technical or biological term, often used for plants or animals.)
Antonyms
summer (As a verb, to spend the summer somewhere.)
Collocations
winter abroad
|winter in Florida
|winter over
|winter at home
Themes
travel
|daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They usually winter in Florida to avoid the cold.
- The birds winter along the southern coast.
- We decided to winter abroad this year.
- Many retirees choose to winter in warmer climates.
Learner examples
- We winter in Spain every year.
- The birds winter in Africa.
- They will winter in the south.
- She winters at her beach house.
Grammar
Dictionary form
winter
IPA
GB/wˈɪntɚ/
US/wˈɪntɚ/
Syllables & stress
winter (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (winter)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: winter
- Plural: winter, winters
Verb
- Base: winter
- 3rd Person Singular: winters
- Present Participle: wintering
- Past: wintered
Word family
Forms
winters
noun
wintering
verb
wintered
verb
Core family
wintry
adjective B2
Related words
wintertime
noun
Advanced or less common
overwinter
verb
Expressions
in the dead of winter
1/ˈɪn ðə dˈɛd əv wˈɪntɚ/
fixed phrase
During the coldest part of winter
In the very coldest and darkest time of the winter season.
Examples
- We moved to the city in the dead of winter.
- The pipes froze in the dead of winter.
winter blues
1/wˈɪntɚ blˈuz/
fixed phrase
informal
Sadness felt during winter months
Feeling sad or without energy because it is winter.
Examples
- I always get the winter blues after the holidays.
- Exercise can help fight off the winter blues.
winter wonderland
1/wˈɪntɚ wˈʌndɚlˌænd/
fixed phrase
A beautiful snowy landscape
A place that looks very beautiful because it is covered in snow.
Examples
- The park turned into a winter wonderland after the snowfall.
- The village is a true winter wonderland in December.