New Year's Resolution: Definition, Examples & Tips

Meaning 1：a new-year vow (New Year's resolution)

New Year's resolution 🔊

/nuː jɪrz ˌrez.əˈluː.ʃən/

A promise that you make to yourself to start doing something good or stop doing something bad on the first day of the new year.

New Year's resolution goal writing in notebook with calendar

a new-year vow 🔊

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/ə nuː jɪr vaʊ/

A New Year's resolution is a personal commitment made at the start of a new year to achieve a specific goal or change a habit. It is often related to self-improvement, health, or learning.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

New Year's (belonging to the new year) + resolution (from Latin 'resolutio', meaning a firm decision).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'resolve' - a strong will to change on January 1st.

📖 Example

My New Year's resolution is to go for a walk in the park every morning. 🔊 My New Year's resolution is to go for a walk in the park every morning.

🔗 Collocations

make a New Year's resolution – to decide to do something good in the new year

keep a New Year's resolution – to follow through on your promise

break a New Year's resolution – to fail to keep your promise

🔄 Synonyms

goal (n.) – an aim or desired result

pledge (n./v.) – a solemn promise or undertaking

vow (n./v.) – a solemn promise to do a specified thing

🚫 Antonyms

indifference (n.) – lack of interest or concern

procrastination (n.) – the action of delaying or postponing something

📖 Cultural Story

The tradition of making New Year's resolutions dates back to ancient Babylonians around 4,000 years ago, who made promises to their gods. Today it remains a common secular practice for self-improvement.