# year

/ˈjɪɹ/ (US) · /jˈiə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/year
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. 365 days / 12 months

noun · CEFR A1

a period of 365 days (or 366 in a leap year) divided into 12 months.

For teachers: the period of approximately 365.25 days required for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun.

- We moved to this house exactly one year ago today.
- The company reported a significant increase in global revenue compared to the previous year, despite the challenging economic climate.

Usage: Countable; usually takes a plural form when referring to a quantity of time.

### 2. calendar period

noun · CEFR A1

the time from January 1st to December 31st.

For teachers: the period of time starting on January 1 and ending on December 31 in the Gregorian calendar.

- Happy New Year to everyone in the office.
- The festival is held every year in late spring to celebrate the local harvest and community traditions.

### 3. school or work cycle

noun · CEFR A2

a part of the year used for a specific activity, like school or business.

For teachers: a period of time, often less than twelve months, dedicated to a specific recurring cycle such as education or finance.

- The school year starts in September and ends in June.
- The university's academic year is divided into two semesters, with a short winter break between them.

Usage: Often modified by another noun, such as 'school year', 'academic year', or 'fiscal year'.

### 4. age or grade level

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a group of students who are at the same level in school.

For teachers: a cohort of students who enter or complete a level of education at the same time.

- My daughter is in Year 4 at the local primary school.
- The entire year was gathered in the assembly hall to hear the headteacher's announcement regarding the upcoming field trip.

Usage: Commonly used in the UK to refer to school levels, whereas American English prefers 'grade'.

Teaching tip: In the UK, students might say 'I am in Year 10', while in the US they would say 'I am in 10th grade'.

### 5. astronomy

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the time it takes for any planet to go around its sun.

For teachers: the orbital period of any celestial body around its primary star.

- A year on Mars is much longer than a year on Earth.
- Astronomers calculated that the distant exoplanet has a year lasting only three Earth days due to its proximity to its host star.

Usage: Often specified by the name of the planet, such as a 'Martian year'.

## Examples

- I am going to visit my family next year.
- The school year usually begins in September and ends in June for most students in this country.
- Economists are predicting a significant shift in the global market by the end of the fiscal year, provided that current trade agreements remain stable and inflation stays low.

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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.