january

january — noun

1. the month that opens the calendar year, starting as soon as December ends and le

1.nounA1
Definition

the month that opens the calendar year, starting as soon as December ends and leading into February.

Example

Our family always visits Grandma Rosa in early January.

common phrase: in early January

The January sales offered big discounts on winter coats.

collocation: January sales

Common collocations
  • in January
  • early January
  • late January
  • last January
  • next January
  • January sales
  • the beginning of January
  • the middle of January
  • January 1st

Grammar Patterns

in + January

on + January + date

last/next + January

Usage Note

Always capitalise the first letter. Use in before the month alone (in January), but on before a specific date (on January 5th).

Common Mistakes

I will visit you on January.
I will visit you in January.
Use in for the month without a date; on is only for a specific day.

Common collocations

Nouns

  • month
  • weather
  • sales
  • holiday

Adverbs

  • early
  • late

Phrases

  • the beginning of January
  • the middle of January
  • the end of January

Prepositions

  • in
  • since
  • until
  • by

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

January comes from the Latin word Jānuārius, named after the Roman god Janus. Janus had two faces — one looking back at the old year and one looking forward to the new one, which fits how January sits between the past year and the year ahead.