# advent

/ˈædˌvɛnt/ (US) · /ˈædvɛnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/advent
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. arrival of something new

noun · CEFR B2

the arrival or start of a new invention, idea, or event that changes things.

For teachers: the arrival, emergence, or inception of a significant new development, technology, or era.

- The advent of the internet completely changed how people shop and communicate.
- The advent of jet travel in the mid-twentieth century effectively shrank the globe, making international tourism accessible to the middle class.

Usage: Usually follows the pattern 'the advent of [something]' and is almost always used with the definite article.

### 2. religious season

noun · CEFR B1

the period of four weeks before Christmas in the Christian religion.

For teachers: the liturgical season of the Christian church year, comprising the four weeks preceding Christmas.

- The children opened a small door on their Advent calendar every morning in December.
- During Advent, the cathedral choir prepares a specific repertoire of music intended to reflect the period of anticipation before the Nativity.

Usage: Often capitalized as 'Advent' when referring to the specific religious season.

Teaching tip: Learners will most commonly encounter this in the context of 'Advent calendars' or 'Advent candles'.

## Examples

- The advent of the internet changed how we communicate.
- Life in the village changed dramatically with the advent of the railway in the late nineteenth century.
- Scholars argue that the advent of mass-market printing was the single most important catalyst for the spread of literacy across the continent.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.