winters
B1formal, informal, literary
Definition
Meaning
the season between autumn and spring, characterized by the coldest weather of the year.
Can refer to the passage of multiple years, especially in terms of age or experience; also used metaphorically for periods of dormancy, difficulty, or hardship.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a plural noun, it often indicates a span of years ('many winters have passed') or is used in general statements ('winters are cold here'). The capitalised form 'Winters' is a common surname.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'winter' and 'winters' identically in terms of meaning. Some minor regional variations in typical collocations (e.g., 'winter tyre' vs. 'snow tyre').
Connotations
In both varieties, 'winters' can carry connotations of age, hardship, or endurance when referring to time passed.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + verb + for/in/during + X wintersIt + be + adjective + in the wintersWinters + be + adjective + in + [location]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “winters of our discontent”
- “old man winter (personification)”
- “to winter over (verb, not plural)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in tourism, agriculture, and energy sectors to discuss seasonal trends, e.g., 'Our sales dip during the winters.'
Academic
Used in climatology, history, and literature, e.g., 'The data shows milder winters in the last decade.'
Everyday
Common in conversation about weather, travel plans, and reminiscing, e.g., 'The winters here seem to be getting shorter.'
Technical
In meteorology for seasonal analysis; in ecology for studying hibernation or migration patterns.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The herd winters in the sheltered valley.
- He usually winters in Tenerife to escape the gloom.
American English
- The cattle winter in the south pasture.
- They winter in Florida every year.
adverb
British English
- Snow falls winters in the Scottish Highlands. (Archaic/regional)
- Swallows are not seen here winters. (Archaic/regional)
American English
- They travel south winters. (Archaic/regional)
adjective
British English
- She bought a new winters coat in the January sales.
- The winters timetable for the bus service starts next week.
American English
- He put on his winter boots. (Note: 'winter' as attributive noun, not strictly adjective)
- They followed the winter schedule.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Winters are cold in Canada.
- I like the snow in winters.
- We've had two very mild winters in a row.
- My grandparents spend their winters in Spain.
- The harsh winters of the 18th century are well documented in parish records.
- Over the winters, the old barn had begun to sag and lean.
- His seventy winters had etched deep lines into his face, each one a story.
- The company's strategy was to consolidate during the economic winters and expand during the summers of growth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
WIN-TERS: Imagine you WIN a trophy every time you survive the TERribly cold Season.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS SEASONS / DIFFICULTY IS COLD WEATHER / AGE IS WINTER
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'зимы' for metaphorical 'years' in all contexts; assess if 'года' or 'годы' is more appropriate.
- Remember English uses 'in winter/winters', not the Russian prepositional case equivalent 'зимой' which implies a single instrument/means.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I have lived here for 5 winter.' (Correct: '...for 5 winters' or '...for 5 years, specifically the winters.)
- Incorrect: 'Winters in my country is very cold.' (Correct: 'Winters ... are very cold.')
Practice
Quiz
In the metaphorical phrase 'he has seen eighty winters,' what does 'winters' primarily mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the verb 'to winter' (3rd person singular: winters) means to spend the winter in a particular place. E.g., 'The bird winters in Africa.'
'In winter' refers to the season in a general, habitual sense. 'In the winters' can be used similarly but often emphasises a repeated, yearly occurrence over a period, or contrasts different winters. E.g., 'It snows in winter' vs. 'In the winters of my childhood, it always snowed.'
Yes, when it is a proper noun (a surname or place name). As a common noun referring to the season, it is not capitalised unless it starts a sentence.
No, when referring to multiple occurrences of the season, the plural 'winters' is required. 'Five winters' is correct. You could say 'five winter seasons' but it is less common.