DictionaryAI

new

NOO/nu/SayNYOO/njuː//njʉː/

Formsnewer, newest

17 meanings of new

Practice

  1. 1
    of recent originadjective
    Made, started or born only a short time ago.

    The band just released a new album.

    They just built a new school on our street.

    Similarrecent, fresh, modern

    Oppositeold, ancient

  2. 2
    adjective
    Never used or worn before.

    I got a new backpack for the first day of school.

    The shoes are new, I haven't worn them yet.

    UsageSay brand new for completely new.

    Similarpristine, mint

    Oppositeused, worn, old

  3. 3
    adjective
    Found or added only a short time ago.

    Scientists have found a new kind of frog in the rainforest.

    The report adds nothing new.

    UsageSay something new or nothing new.

    Similarrecent

    Oppositeold, dated

  4. 4
    adjective
    Having just arrived or appeared.

    There's a new kid in my class who just moved here.

    A new student joined our class today.

    Oppositeestablished

    Note
  5. 5
    not formeradjective
    The one you have now, rather than the one you had before.

    Have you met my new boss yet? She seems really nice.

    Our new apartment is close to work, so I walk there every day.

    Similarcurrent

    Oppositeformer, old

    Note
  6. 6
    in place namesadjective
    Used in names for a place or thing set up later and named after an older one.

    New Jersey was named after Jersey, an island in the English Channel.

    New England got its name from England, the home of many of its first settlers.

    Oppositeold

    Note
  7. 7
    adjective
    Not known or familiar to you before.

    The idea was new to me.

    I need to meet new people.

    UsageSay something is new to you.

    Similarunfamiliar, strange, novel

    Oppositefamiliar

  8. 8
    coming periodadjective
    Used about a period of time that is next or has just started.

    We expect to grow by ten percent in the new decade.

    The new year begins on a Thursday.

    Similarnext, coming, upcoming

    Oppositeold, last, previous

  9. 9
    inexperiencedadjective
    Not yet experienced at something, used with 'at' or 'to'.

    I'm new to the city, so I still get lost sometimes.

    He is still new to the work.

    UsageSay new to + -ing: new to cooking.

    Similargreen

    Oppositeexperienced, expert, accustomed

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of new apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This is a very old word for "new." It comes from Old English nīewe and goes all the way back to an ancient root meaning "new," which is also linked to the word "now."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

  • The word has a very old history, extending back through Old English to Proto-Indo-European. en.wiktionary.org
  • English new descends from Old English nīewe. en.wiktionary.org
  • Its ancestry includes a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European form meaning new. en.wiktionary.org
  • The ancient ancestor of new is etymologically linked to now. en.wiktionary.org