AUGUST Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com (original) (raw)

adjective

inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic.

an august performance of a religious drama.
venerable; eminent.

an august personage.

August 2 American

[aw-g_uh_st] / ˈɔ gəst /

noun

the eighth month of the year, containing 31 days. Aug.
a first name, form of Augustus.

august 1 British

/ ɔːˈɡʌst /

adjective

dignified or imposing

an august presence
of noble birth or high rank

an august lineage

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

August 2 British

/ ˈɔːɡəst /

noun

the eighth month of the year, consisting of 31 days

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What is August?August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It has 31 days and is between July and September. In the Northern Hemisphere August is known as a middle month of the summer season. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is a middle month of the winter season. Among the holidays that happen in August are several independence days. August 1 is Benin’s and Switzterland’s, August 13 is the Central African Republic’s, and August 24 is Ukraine’s, to name just a few. As an adjective, august describes something or someone who is majestic or who inspires admiration, as in Playing the part of the queen, Pramila wore an august crown that could be seen from the back row. Example: I get the back-to-school blues as soon as August begins.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of august1

First recorded in 1590–1600; from French, Middle French auguste, from Latin augustus “sacred, grand,” akin to augēre “to increase” and augur 1 ( def. ); see also eke 1

Origin of August2

before 1100; Middle English < Latin Augustus (named after Augustus. ); replacing Old English Agustus < Latin, as above

Explanation

August is not just the eighth month of the year; it also describes something esteemed or regal. The 200-year-old newspaper covering the royal wedding might be called an august institution. The month August was named for Augustus Caesar who was an important and regal person. This is an easy way to remember the two meanings. Interestingly enough, linguists think that the word august did not descend from the same root as the month August. Find that hard to believe? August sources disagree. Oh, and don't forget to pronounce each word properly — the month has the accent on the first syllable, the adjective on the second.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing august

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In August, the museum’s summer concert series will return, highlighted by “Yoko Only”; a night celebrating Ono’s extensive music catalog.

FromLos Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

The pressure crossed a new line in August.

FromThe Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Thomas Paul Holton Willis was found pinned under the cab in the yard of lorry dealer PD Services, in Alltami, Flintshire, on 2 August 2022.

FromBBC • May 13, 2026

Gas prices exceeded $4 a gallon in April for the first time since August 2022, according to AAA.

FromBarron's • May 13, 2026

German troops continued their advance across Belgium, overwhelming the small Belgian army and marching victoriously through Brussels, the capital, on August 20, 1914.

From"The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023