autumnal

adjective

au·tum·nal ȯ-ˈtəm-nəl

: of, relating to, or characteristic of autumn

autumnal weather

autumnal colors

the autumnal equinox

I am often surprised to see rising amid these trees the rounded tops of apple-trees glowing with red or yellow fruit, in harmony with the autumnal tints of the forest.—

Henry David Thoreau

autumnally

ȯ-ˈtəm-nə-lē

adverb

These days on the verge of winter were autumnally fair, struck through with warmth until the swift lengthening of the shadows. —

John Updike

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The paparazzi snaps capture something essentially autumnal—the falling leaves, knit beanies, paper coffee cups, the new-beginning beauty of falling in love. —

Jenny Singer, Glamour, 15 Nov. 2021 Between taking a trip to a pumpkin patch, tailgating, and refreshing your home with autumnal decor, there are plenty of fun activities to make the most of fall. —

Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE.com, 28 Oct. 2021 This year, the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on September 22 — the official beginning of fall. —

CBS News, 20 Sep. 2021 The term Harvest Moon is given to the full moon, either in September or October, that is closer to the autumnal equinox. —

Jennifer Aldrich, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2021 The film’s damp, autumnal middle-European vistas never feel emptily pictorial in their beauty. —

Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2021 Luckily, there's no shortage of celebrity inspiration for autumnal looks that work on short, shoulder-length, and long hair alike (and that work on a multitude of hair textures). —

Allure, 20 Aug. 2021 Sharkey is an autumnal 62 years old, still surfing but increasingly given to living in the past tense. —

Sam Sacks, WSJ, 7 May 2021 The group runs throughout the property, plays on the beach, and roasts marshmallows, all while wearing perfectly autumnal clothing (the video was shot last fall). —

Annie Goldsmith, Town & Country, 2 May 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'autumnal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.