Etimology
From Middle English newe, from Old English nīewe, from Proto-West Germanic *niwi, from Proto-Germanic *niwjaz, from Proto-Indo-European *néwyos (“new”), from *néwos.
adjective
new (comparative newer, superlative newest)
Recently made, or created.
Additional; recently discovered.
Current or later, as opposed to former.
Used to distinguish something established more recently, named after something or some place previously existing.
In original condition; pristine; not previously worn or used.
Refreshed, reinvigorated, reformed.
Newborn.
Strange, unfamiliar or not previously known.
Recently arrived or appeared.
Inexperienced or unaccustomed at some task.
(of a period of time) Next; about to begin or recently begun.
Examples
Hidden behind thickets of acronyms and gorse bushes of detail, a new great game is under way across the globe. Some call it geoeconomics, but it's geopolitics too. The current power play consists of an extraordinary range of countries simultaneously sitting down to negotiate big free trade and investment agreements.
This is a new scratch on my car! The band just released a new album.
I can't see you for a while; the pain is still too new. Did you see the new King Lear at the theatre?
We turned up some new evidence from the old files.
My new car is much better than my previous one, even though it is older. We had been in our new house for five years by then.
New Bond Street is an extension of Bond Street.
Are you going to buy a new car or a second-hand one?
That shirt is dirty. Go and put on a new one. I feel like a new person after a good night's sleep. After the accident, I saw the world with new eyes.
My sister has a new baby, and our mother is excited to finally have a grandchild.
Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.
The idea was new to me. I need to meet new people.
'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.
Have you met the new guy in town? He is the new kid at school.
Don't worry that you're new at this job; you'll get better with time. I'm new at this business.
We expect to grow at 10% annually in the new decade.
Related words
synonyms
(recently made, created, or appeared): brand new, recent, neo-, ceno-
(additional, recently discovered): recent
(current or later): current
(in original condition, pristine): brand new, brand spanking new, mint, pristine
(refreshed, reinvigorated, reformed): born-again, reformed, refreshed, reinvigorated, revived
(newborn): newborn, young
(of recent origin): fresh
(strange, unfamiliar): strange, unfamiliar
(recently arrived or appeared): novel, singular
(inexperienced, unaccustomed): brand new, green
See also Thesaurus:new
antonyms
(antonym(s) of "recently made, created, or appeared"): ancient, dated, old
(antonym(s) of "additional, recently discovered"): dated, old
(antonym(s) of "current or later"): former, old
(antonym(s) of "distinguishing something established more recently"): old
(antonym(s) of "in original condition, pristine"): old, used, worn
(antonym(s) of "refreshed, reinvigorated, reformed"): old
(antonym(s) of "young"): old
(antonym(s) of "of recent origin"): original, previous
(antonym(s) of "strange, unfamiliar"): familiar, old
(antonym(s) of "recently arrived or appeared"): established
(antonym(s) of "inexperienced, unaccustomed"): accustomed, experienced, expert
hyponyms
brand new
adverb
new (comparative more new, superlative most new)
Newly (especially in composition).
As new; from scratch.
Examples
new-born, new-formed, new-found, new-mown
They are scraping the site clean to build new.
Related words
related terms
new-
noun
new (usually uncountable, plural news)
Things that are new.
(Australia, uncountable) A typically light-coloured lager brewed by the bottom-fermentation method.
(UK, naval slang) A naval cadet who has just embarked on training.
Examples
Out with the old, in with the new.
In the Britannia "news" were worms, to be trodden on […]
verb
new (third-person singular simple present news, present participle newing, simple past and past participle newed)
(programming) Synonym of new up
(obsolete) To make new; to recreate; to renew.