autumnal

IPA/ɔːˈtʌmnəl/
KK[ɔtˈʌmnəl]IPA/ɔːˈtʌmnəl/

autumnal — adjective

  • autumnalpositive
  • more autumnalcomparative
  • most autumnalsuperlative

1. showing the colors, weather, or general feeling of autumn

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

showing the colors, weather, or general feeling of autumn

Example

Kian hung an autumnal wreath on the red front door.

collocation: autumnal wreath / autumnal decoration

The park looked autumnal after strong winds covered the paths with leaves.

look + autumnal for an overall seasonal impression

Common collocations
  • autumnal colors
  • autumnal light
  • autumnal leaves
  • autumnal air
  • autumnal garden
  • autumnal shades
  • autumnal mood
  • autumnal feel
  • autumnal decoration
Synonyms
  • fall-like

    more literal and more natural in American English than autumnal

  • seasonal

    broader — can refer to any time-of-year connection, not specifically autumn colors or mood

  • rust-colored

    narrower — describes a brown-orange color, not the full autumn atmosphere

Antonyms
  • summery

    suggests a warm, bright feeling linked with summer instead

  • spring-like

    suggests the fresh, light feeling of spring rather than autumn

Grammar Patterns

autumnal + noun

look/feel + autumnal

Usage Note

Most often used for colors, light, decoration, weather, or a general mood rather than for the season itself. In everyday speech, people often say 'like autumn' instead.

Common Mistakes

The room looked very autumn.
The room looked very autumnal.
after 'looked', use the adjective 'autumnal', not the noun 'autumn'.
We wanted an autumn style for the cafe.
We wanted an autumnal style for the cafe.
use 'autumnal' when you mean an autumn-like look or atmosphere.

Word family

  • autumn
    nounA1
  • autumnally
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Autumnal describes colors, weather, light, or a mood that makes people think of autumn, especially leaves turning red or brown, cooler air, and a quieter feeling. Fall-like is the closest synonym in American English, but it sounds more direct and less literary. Seasonal is broader and can describe anything linked to a particular time of year, not specifically autumn. Summery points to warm, bright, relaxed summer qualities, while spring-like suggests freshness and new growth. Use autumnal when the effect clearly brings autumn to mind rather than simply being seasonal.

autumnal ↗fall-likeseasonal ↗summery ↗spring-like ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • look autumnal
  • feel autumnal
  • an autumnal touch

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Autumnal comes from autumn plus the adjective ending -al. Autumn entered English through Old French automne from Latin autumnus. The adjective autumnal developed to describe colors, weather, light, and moods that suggest that season.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined above