new

1 of 2

adjective

ˈnü 

chiefly British

ˈnyü 

 in place names usually  (ˌ)nu̇,

 or  nə,

 or  (ˌ)ni

1

: having recently come into existence : recent, modern

I saw their new baby for the first time.

2

a(1)

: having been seen, used, or known for a short time : novel

rice was a new crop for the area

(2)

: unfamiliar

visit new places

b

: being other than the former or old

a steady flow of new money

He bought a new car.

3

: having been in a relationship or condition but a short time

new to the job

a new wife

4

a

: beginning as the resumption or repetition of a previous act or thing

a new day

the new edition

b

: made or become fresh

awoke a new person

c

: relating to or being a new moon

5

: different from one of the same category that has existed previously

new realism

6

: of dissimilar origin and usually of superior quality

a new strain of hybrid corn

7

capitalized : modern sense 3

especially : having been in use after medieval times

New Greek

newish

ˈnü-ish 

ˈnyü-

adjective

newness noun

new

2 of 2

adverb

: newly, recently

—usually used in combination

Synonyms

Adjective

• makeshift
• substitute
• substitutive

Adverb

• freshly
• just
• late
• lately
• newly
• now
• only
• recently

Choose the Right Synonym for new

new, novel, original, fresh mean having recently come into existence or use.

new may apply to what is freshly made and unused

new brick

or has not been known before

new designs

or not experienced before.

starts the new job

novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

a novel approach to the problem

original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

a man without one original idea

fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

a fresh start

Examples of new in a Sentence

Adjective

They visited the new library.

I saw their new baby for the first time.

They planted new trees on the campus.

a new kind of music

She couldn't afford a new car, so she bought a used one.

He bought the car new.

She is eager to see his new apartment.

This is my new stepsister.

the young man and his new wife

I made a new friend today.

Adverb

new-mown grass

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Here are some of them, along with specific book recommendations for each: Cognitive Stimulation and Neural Plasticity Reading challenging literature is a mental workout for the brain, creating new synapses and strengthening existing connections. —Harrison Monarth, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024

For example, other researchers have found that people tend to be reluctant to give used products as presents because there's a norm that gifts should be new. —Rebecca Walker Reczek, Cory Haltman, CBS News, 25 Dec. 2024

Sandler’s professional golfer returns for the sequel, coming to Netflix in 2025, with some old and new companions. —Emiliana Betancourt, Variety, 25 Dec. 2024

Shelters are still overwhelmed with new entries, and almost 1 million pets a year are put down across the country for lack of space. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English newe, new, nywe, going back to Old English nīowe, nīewe, nēowe, going back to Germanic *neuja- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German niuwi "new," Middle Dutch nieuwe, nûwe, Old Norse nýr, Gothic niujis), going back to Indo-European *neu̯i̯o-, derivative of *neu̯o- "new, young," whence Latin novus "new" (from *newos), Greek néos "young, fresh, new," Tocharian A ñu "new," Tocharian B ñuwe, Sanskrit návaḥ "new, fresh, young," Avestan nauua-, Hittite nēwa- "new"; also, going back to presumed ablaut variant, *nou̯o- (whence Old Church Slavic novŭ "new, recent") and *nou̯i̯o- (whence Old Irish náue, nuae "new, fresh," Welsh newydd, Lithuanian naũjas "new," Sanskrit návyaḥ "new, young"); also, going back to a derivative *neu̯ǝro- (parallel to Greek nearós "youthful, tender"), Armenian nor "new"

Note: A widely attested Indo-European adjective, apparently extant in all major branches except Albanian. Indo-European *neu̯o-, etc., may be based on *nu, *nuH "now" (see now entry 1).

Adverb

Middle English newe, going back to Old English nīwe, derivative of nīowe, nīewe new entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing new

• a new lease on life
• (as) good as new
• a whole new ball game
• brand-new
• brave new world
• break new ground
• breathed new life into
• breathe (new) life into
• give (something) new life
• like new
• make a fresh/new start
• new age
• new blood
• new drug
• new economics
• new-fashioned
• new guard
• new jack
• new jack swing
• new kid on the block
• new math
• new moon
• new potato
• new town
• new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• new wave
• new-world
• pastures new
• plumb new depths
• put a new/different complexion on
• reach new depths
• see the new year in
• set/start a (new) trend
• sink to new depths
• spanking new
• span-new
• take on (a) new life
• the new
• turn over a new leaf
• under new management
• what else is new?
• what's new?
• you can't teach an old dog new tricks

Kids Definition

new

1 of 2 adjective

ˈn(y)ü 

1

: not old : recent, modern

new ways of thinking

2

: not the same as the former : taking the place of one that came before

a new teacher

3

: recently discovered or learned about

new lands

new plants and animals

4

: not known or experienced before

new feelings

5

: not accustomed

new to this work

6

: beginning as a repeating of some previous act or thing

the new year

7

: refreshed in spirits or vigor

felt like a new person after my vacation

8

: being in a position or place for the first time

a new member

newness noun

new

2 of 2 adverb

: just recently

new-mown hay

Geographical Definition

New

geographical name

ˈnü 

ˈnyü

river flowing 320 miles (515 kilometers) from northwestern North Carolina north across Virginia into West Virginia, where it joins the Gauley River to form the Kanawha River