new
new — adjective
1. Something that has just been made, built, or started to exist — like a new house
Something that has just been made, built, or started to exist — like a new house, a new law, or a new product.
Elena moved into her new apartment last Saturday.
new + noun (apartment)
A new hospital is being built near the train station.
Lukas started his new job at the library this week.
The company plans to launch three new products next month.
new + noun (products)
This road looks very new — they finished it only last week.
be + new (predicative)
- new apartment
- new job
- new product
- new system
- new law
- new building
- old
the most direct opposite for things that have existed a long time
Grammar Patterns
new + noun
be + new
Common Mistakes
2. Different from the one that was there before, often taking its place — for examp
Different from the one that was there before, often taking its place — for example, a new boss, a new plan, or a new beginning.
Sari got a new hairstyle for her best friend's wedding.
After selling his old car, Felix bought a new one.
new one (replaces old car)
The teacher gave us a new assignment to work on over the weekend.
Yara decided to make a new start in a different city.
new start (idiomatic collocation)
The restaurant has a new menu with different dishes this season.
- new boss
- new plan
- new beginning
- new start
- new menu
- new approach
- another
emphasises a different one, not necessarily replacing; 'another try'
- different
focuses on the contrast; blunter than 'new'
- replacement
used as a noun; emphasises substitution
- old
referring to the previous thing that was replaced
Grammar Patterns
new + noun
be + new
Usage Note
This sense often contrasts with an explicit 'old' or 'previous' item: 'her new school is bigger than her old one.'
3. Not known, seen, or experienced before; something you have not yet met, used, or
Not known, seen, or experienced before; something you have not yet met, used, or learned about.
Kabir felt lost in the new city on his first day there.
Learning a new language takes time and practice.
new + noun (language)
The new student in class looked nervous on the first morning.
Ryo was excited to try new foods during his trip to Mexico.
The procedures were new to everyone at the office.
new to + pronoun (everyone)
- new to
- new city
- new language
- new student
- new experience
- new place
- unfamiliar
stronger focus on lack of knowledge; slightly more formal
- strange
suggests it feels odd or unusual, not just unknown
- novel
formal; suggests unusual and interesting newness
- familiar
well-known from previous experience
Grammar Patterns
new + noun
new to + noun/pronoun
Usage Note
Common with 'to': 'new to the job', 'new to the area'. Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense cannot describe objects that are the same type as something old (e.g. 'a new phone' = recently made, not unfamiliar).
Common Mistakes
4. Describing an object that has never been used, worn, or owned by another person
Describing an object that has never been used, worn, or owned by another person — in its original, untouched state.
Chiara wore a new pair of shoes to the party.
The children received new toys on their birthday.
Mark bought a new laptop for his university courses.
new + noun (laptop)
The store sells both new and used furniture.
contrast: new vs used
Is that jacket new, or did you buy it second-hand?
- new shoes
- new clothes
- new car
- new furniture
- new laptop
- brand new
- brand-new
stronger emphasis on never having been used
- mint-condition
like new; used especially for collectibles
- unused
directly states it has not been used; blunter
- used
owned or used by someone before
- second-hand
bought after having a previous owner
Grammar Patterns
new + noun
be + new
Usage Note
Often reinforced with 'brand': 'a brand-new bicycle'. Contrasts with 'second-hand', 'used', or 'pre-owned'. This sense only applies to physical objects, not ideas or situations.
Common Mistakes
5. Recently found, learned about, or made known to people — for example, a new plan
Recently found, learned about, or made known to people — for example, a new planet, a new fact, or a new treatment for a disease.
Scientists have discovered a new species of frog in the jungle.
new + noun (species)
The new evidence changed the direction of the investigation.
Astronomers found a new planet in a distant solar system.
The museum displayed a new collection of ancient pottery.
Research led to a new understanding of how memory works.
new + noun (understanding)
- new species
- new evidence
- new planet
- new discovery
- new understanding
- new treatment
- recently discovered
explicitly states the finding is recent
- newfound
typically used before nouns; 'newfound confidence'
- fresh
informal; 'fresh evidence came to light'
- well-known
something that has been known for a long time
Grammar Patterns
new + noun
be + new
Usage Note
Frequently used in scientific and journalistic contexts: 'new species', 'new evidence', 'new research'. Unlike sense 1, the thing may have existed for a long time — what is 'new' is the discovery of it.
the New River
idiomA river that flows about 515 kilometres from North Carolina through Virginia and into West Virginia, where it joins the Gauley River.
The New River flows through some of the oldest mountains in the world.
Emre went kayaking on the New River last summer.
(a) brave new world
idiomA situation or society that is supposed to be better but often creates new problems.
The brave new world of online education has both benefits and drawbacks.
Many people worry about the brave new world of artificial intelligence.
break new ground
idiomTo do something that has not been done before or to make a new discovery.
The scientist broke new ground with her research on cancer.
Did the artist break new ground with that abstract painting?
To improve something by adding new ideas or energy.
The new manager breathed new life into the struggling company.
Can this renovation breathe new life into the old theater?
A situation where people pretend to admire something that is actually worthless or nonexistent.
The critics praised the movie, but I think it's the emperor's new clothes.
Investors finally realized the emperor had no clothes and sold their shares.
In very good condition, like when it was new.
After a thorough cleaning, the carpet looked as good as new.
Is this watch as good as new after the repair?
… is the new…
idiomUsed to say that something has become very fashionable and replaces something else.
Green is the new black in fashion this season.
Some say that blogging is the new journalism.
new/fresh blood
idiomNew people in an organization who bring fresh ideas and energy.
The team needs new blood to stay competitive.
Did the company hire new blood for the marketing department?
a new broom
idiomA person who has just started a senior job and is likely to make many changes.
The new CEO is a new broom who wants to reform the company.
As a new broom, she quickly replaced several department heads.
A person who is new to a place or group.
Even after a year, he was still the new kid on the block.
Are you the new kid on the block in this neighborhood?
the new normal
idiomA situation that was once unusual but is now expected.
Working from home has become the new normal for many people.
Is this hot weather the new normal for our city?
a new one on me
idiomUsed to say that you have not heard something before.
That excuse is a new one on me.
Is that joke a new one on you?
To change the way a situation appears or is understood.
The new evidence put a different complexion on the case.
Does this report put a new complexion on the problem?
To behave in a worse way than ever before.
The politician sank to a new low with that insult.
Did the show sink to a new low with that offensive joke?
To successfully change someone's long-established habits or methods.
My grandfather says you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Can you teach an old dog new tricks like using a smartphone?
turn over a new leaf
idiomTo start behaving in a better or more responsible way.
After his illness, he turned over a new leaf and quit smoking.
Have you decided to turn over a new leaf this year?
what’s new?
idiomUsed as a friendly greeting to ask about recent events.
Hi, Maya! What's new with you?
What's new in the world of technology?
new — noun
1. Things, ideas, or experiences that are new — the opposite of the old, the famili
Things, ideas, or experiences that are new — the opposite of the old, the familiar, or the traditional.
The exhibition combines the old and the new in surprising ways.
the old and the new (parallel structure)
Sora's music is a blend of the old and the new.
In the world of fashion, the new quickly becomes old and unfashionable.
The new is not always better than the old.
the new as a subject
The architect wanted to make something entirely new.
- the new
- the old and the new
- blend of old and new
- the new replaces the old
- the old
things that have existed or been known for a long time
Grammar Patterns
the new
Usage Note
Always takes the definite article 'the'. Cannot be used with 'a' or in the plural ('*new things' is expressed as 'the new'). Often contrasted with 'the old' in parallel constructions.
Common Mistakes
new — adverb
1. Used before certain past participles to mean 'very recently', mainly in fixed co
Used before certain past participles to mean 'very recently', mainly in fixed compounds such as new-fallen snow and new-found land.
The whole garden was covered in a thick layer of new-fallen snow.
new-fallen (adverb + past participle)
Darius felt a new-found respect for his grandfather's stories.
The children played happily in the pile of new-fallen leaves.
Élise enjoyed the scent of new-mown hay from the field.
- new-fallen
- new-found
- new-mown
- new-laid
- newly
the modern adverb form; much more common and productive
Grammar Patterns
new + past participle in compound adjectives
Usage Note
This adverbial usage of 'new' is not free-standing — you cannot say '*I new arrived' (use 'I newly arrived' or 'I just arrived'). It survives only in a small set of compound adjectives. In modern English, 'newly' is the standard adverb form.
Common Mistakes
new — prefix
1. Added to certain past participles to mean 'recently' — forming compound adjectiv
Added to certain past participles to mean 'recently' — forming compound adjectives such as newborn, newfound, new-laid, and new-mown.
The newborn baby slept peacefully in her mother's arms.
newborn (new- + born)
Asher's newfound wealth changed the way he lived.
newfound (new- + found)
The new-mown grass smelled sweet in the summer air.
The new-laid eggs were still warm from the hen.
Ife's newborn daughter has bright blue eyes that everyone admires.
- newborn
- newfound
- new-laid
- new-mown
- new-fallen
- newly
an adverb with the same meaning ('newly discovered'), but used before past participles as a separate word
Grammar Patterns
new- + past participle
Usage Note
Not a productive prefix — it only appears in a small fixed set of compound words (newborn, newfound, new-laid, new-mown, new-fallen). You cannot freely attach it to other words to mean 'recently'.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
New is the most general word for something that has recently come into existence or been made. Fresh often applies to food, flowers, or air — things that have just been picked, prepared, or produced and are at their best: 'fresh bread' is newly baked; 'new bread' simply contrasts with old bread. Novel (more formal) describes something unusual and original in a way that attracts attention: 'a novel approach' is cleverly different, not merely recent. Brand-new (informal) strongly emphasises that an object has never been used: 'a brand-new smartphone still in its box.' Choose new for general use, fresh for perishable items, novel for clever originality, and brand-new for unused physical objects.
Common collocations
Nouns
- new year
- new world
- new baby
- new technology
- new generation
Adverbs
- brand new
- completely new
- entirely new
- relatively new
- almost new
Phrases
- new and improved
- nothing new
- the new normal
Prepositions
- new to
Etymology
New comes from the Old English word 'neowe' or 'niwe', which goes back to a Proto-Germanic root '*newjaz'. That root comes from an even older Indo-European word '*newo-', meaning 'new'. You can hear the same ancient root in Latin 'novus' (which gave us 'novel' and 'innovation'), in Greek 'neos' (which gave us 'neon'), and in many other languages from Hindi to Russian. The basic idea — something young, fresh, or recently made — has stayed the same for thousands of years.