100 Word-of-the-Year Ideas
Have you ever picked a word for the year? Full disclosure: I’m not very good at picking a “word for the year.” If I remember to pick, I take forever, and then, I keep changing it. However, I did this for fun and I enjoyed curating these definitions from different dictionaries, and ultimately, I do love words, and believe that there is a lot to be learned in spending time with them, so take from this whatever you like!
Form (noun) “bring together parts or combine to create (something).” (Oxford Languages)
Boundless (adjective) “having no bounds; infinite or vast; unlimited” (Dictionary.com)
Process (noun) “a series of changes that happen naturally” (Cambridge)
Learn (verb) “to gain knowledge or a skill that makes it possible for you to do something” (Macmillan)
Continue (verb) “to start to do something again after a pause” (Cambridge)
Reimagine (verb) “to imagine again or in a different way” (Collins)
Anchor (noun) “someone or something that gives support when needed” (Cambridge)
Reclaim (noun) “to get something back that someone has taken from you” (Macmillan)
Connect (verb) “bring together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established” (Oxford Languages)
Generosity (noun) “a willingness to give help or support, esp. more than is usual or expected” (Cambridge)
Liberate (verb) “to set at liberty : FREE” (Merriam-Webster)
Uncover (verb) “to make known : bring to light” (Merriam-Webster)
Awaken (verb) “make someone aware of (something) for the first time.” (Oxford Languages)
Rhythm (noun) “movement, fluctuation, or variation marked by the regular recurrence or natural flow of related elements” (Merriam-Webster)
Tranquility (noun) “the quality or state of being tranquil; calm” (Oxford Languages)
Renew (noun) “the process of starting something again after a pause” (Macmillan)
Flow (verb) “to move in a stream” (Merriam-Webster)
Readiness (noun) “willingness to do something” (Oxford Languages)
Evolve (verb) “to develop gradually” (Cambridge)
Remain (verb) “to continue to exist when other parts or other things no longer exist” (Cambridge)
Notice (verb) “to see or become conscious of something” (Cambridge)
Make (verb) “to bring into being by forming, shaping, or altering material” (Merriam-Webster)
Become (verb) “to change and start to be something different, or to start to have a different quality” (Macmillan)
Tapestry (noun) “a strong cloth with colored threads woven into it to create a picture or design” (Cambridge)
Practice (noun) “the activity of doing something again and again in order to become better at it” (Merriam-Webster)
Detail (noun) “the small features of something that you only notice when you look carefully” (Cambridge)
Refine (verb) “improve (something) by making small changes” (Oxford Languages)
Voyage (noun) “an account of a journey” (Cambridge)
Abundant (adjective) “more than enough” (Cambridge)
Reveal (verb) “to allow something to be seen that, until then, had been hidden” (Cambridge)
Wonder (noun) “a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable” (Oxford Languages)
Curiosity (noun) “a strong desire to know or learn something” (Oxford Languages)
Release (verb) “allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free” (Oxford Languages)
Audacity (noun) “a willingness to take bold risks” (Oxford Languages)
Space (verb) “to arrange things or people so that there is some distance or time between them” (Cambridge)
Foundation (noun) “the base that is built below the surface of the ground to support a building” (Cambridge)
Pursue (verb) “to continue to do” (Cambridge)
Courage (noun) “Courage is the quality shown by someone who decides to do something difficult or dangerous, even though they may be afraid.” (Collins)
Ripple (verb) “to flow in small waves” (Merriam-Webster)
Loosen (verb) “to release from restraint” (Merriam-Webster)
Embody (verb) “to embrace or comprise” (Dictionary.com)
Vitality (verb) 1) “power of enduring” 2) “capacity to live and develop” (Merriam-Webster)
Resolve (verb) “decide firmly on a course of action” (Oxford Languages)
Focus (noun) “directed attention” (Merriam-Webster)
Build (verb) “to create and develop something over a long period of time” (Cambridge)
Cultivate (verb) “prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening” (Oxford Languages)
Bold (adjective) “adventurous, free” (Merriam-Webster)
Express (verb) “to show a feeling or idea by what you say or do or by how you look” (Cambridge)
Commit (noun) “the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.” (Oxford Languages)
Leap (verb) “jump or spring a long way, to a great height” (Oxford Languages)
Action (noun) “the process of doing something, especially when dealing with a problem or difficulty” (Cambridge)
Infinite (adjective) “without limits” (Cambridge)
Harmony (noun) “Harmony is the combination of separate but related parts in a way that uses their similarities to bring unity to a painting, drawing, or other art object.” (Cambridge)
Redefine (verb) “Give new meaning to” (Cambridge)
Pace (noun) “consistent and continuous speed in walking, running, or moving” (Oxford Languages)
Prioritize (verb) “to decide which of a group of things are the most important so that you can deal with them first” (Cambridge)
Sustain (verb) “to keep alive” (Cambridge)
Start (noun) “the point in time or space at which something has its origin; the beginning.” (Oxford Languages)
Do (verb) “to take part in” (Cambridge)
Versatility (noun) “being able to do many different kinds of things” (Merriam-Webster)
Preparation (noun) “the things that you do or the time that you spend preparing for something” (Cambridge)
Realize (verb) “become fully aware of (something) as a fact; understand clearly.” (Oxford Languages)
Intentionality (noun) “the fact of being deliberate or purposive.” (Oxford Languages)
Root (noun) “the part of a plant which attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibers.” (Oxford Languages)
Integrate (verb) “to form, coordinate, or blend into a functioning or unified whole” (Merriam-Webster)
Go (verb) “move from one place to another” (Oxford Languages)
Seek (verb) “to try to find or get something, especially something that is not a physical object” (Cambridge)
Find (verb) “to realize that something exists or has happened” (Cambridge)
Collect (verb) “bring or gather together (things, typically when scattered or widespread)” (Cambridge)
Capture (verb) “to emphasize, represent, or preserve (something, such as a scene, mood, or quality) in a more or less permanent form” (Cambridge)
Thorough (adjective) “performed or written with great care and completeness” (Oxford Languages)
Yes (adverb) “used to express willingness” (Cambridge)
Change (verb) “to make or become different” (Cambridge)
Lasting (adjective) “enduring or able to endure over a long period of time” (Lexico by Oxford)
Further (adverb) “to a greater distance or degree, or at a more advanced level” (Cambridge)
Unfold (verb) “to develop and become clear” (Cambridge)
Care (noun) “serious attention, especially to the details of a situation or thing” (Cambridge)
Home (noun) “a place of origin” (Merriam-Webster)
Receive (verb) “to welcome something” (Cambridge)
Ask (verb) “invite” (Merriam-Webster)
Delight (noun) “great pleasure, satisfaction” (Cambridge)
Homecoming (noun) “the fact of a person arriving home after being away for a long time” (Cambridge)
Recognize (verb) “to acknowledge or take notice of in some definite way” (Merriam-Webster)
Onward (adverb) “in a continuing forward direction; ahead.” (Oxford Languages)
Within (noun) “an inner place” (Merriam-Webster)
Transform (verb) “to change completely (Cambridge)
River (noun) “any abundant stream or copious flow; outpouring” (Dictionary.com)
Wind (noun) “the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction.” (Oxford Languages)
Sky (noun) “the area above the earth, in which clouds, the sun, etc. can be seen” (Cambridge)
Dance “the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and within a given space, for the purpose of expressing an idea or emotion, releasing energy, or simply taking delight in the movement itself.” (Britannica)
Progression (noun) “the act of changing to the next stage of development” (Cambridge)
Contribute (verb) “to be one of the reasons why something happens” (Cambridge)
Continuum (noun) “something that changes in character gradually or in very slight stages” (Cambridge)
Invitation (noun) “an action that causes or encourages something to happen” (Cambridge)
Vista (noun) “a pleasing view, especially one seen through a long, narrow opening” (Oxford Languages)
Land (noun) “come down through the air and alight on the ground” (Oxford Languages)
Dusk (noun) “the state or period of partial darkness between day and night; the dark part of twilight.” (Dictionary.com)
Dawn (noun) “the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise.” (Oxford Languages)
Horizon (noun) the line at which the earth's surface and the sky appear to meet.” (Oxford Languages)
Shift (verb) “move or cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small distance” (Oxford Languages)