summer

1 of 3

noun

sum·​mer ˈsə-mər 

1

: the season between spring and autumn comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of June, July, and August or as reckoned astronomically extending from the June solstice to the September equinox

2

: the warmer half of the year

3

: year

a girl of seventeen summers

4

: a period of maturing powers

summerlike

ˈsə-mər-ˌlīk 

adjective

summer

2 of 3

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or suitable for summer

summer vacation

a summer home

2

: sown in the spring and harvested in the same year as sown

summer wheat

compare winter

summer

3 of 3

verb

summered; summering ˈsə-mə-riŋ 

ˈsəm-riŋ

intransitive verb

: to pass the summer

transitive verb

: to keep or carry through the summer

especially : to provide (cattle, sheep, etc.) with pasture during the summer

Examples of summer in a Sentence

Noun

What are your plans for this summer?

We visited them two summers ago.

the first day of summer

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The pair is eyeing late summer for a doors-open debut, with an open-air block party that will close Imperial Street for dancing. — Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

There’s nothing more essential to a summer wardrobe than comfortable walking shoes — just take it from Meghan Markle. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026

Adjective

Summerween is a mid-summer celebration of Halloween that blends the nostalgia of the fall holiday with warm-weather aesthetics. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026

Either way, this nostalgic partnership couldn’t be more perfect for a mid-summer treat. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 7 July 2026

Verb

But as Alex Ovechkin summers back home, wrestling with a decision about whether to lace up the skates for a 22nd NHL season at age 41, the news of what is happening in the American capital must have reached the Russian capital. — Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Maxime Vaudin, owner of the beloved bistro Magnolia in Pigalle, has been summering in Île de Ré his whole life. — Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sumer, from Old English sumor; akin to Old High German & Old Norse sumer summer, Sanskrit samā year, season

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing summer

• high summer
• Indian summer
• Saint Martin's summer
• snow-in-summer
• St. Martin's summer
• summer camp
• summer cypress
• summer flounder
• summer home
• summer job
• summer kitchen
• summer savory
• summer school
• summer squash
• summer stock
• summer theater
• summer time

Rhymes for summer

• bummer
• comer
• drummer
• dumber
• hummer
• plumber
• plummer
• somer
• trimer
• midsummer
• newcomer

Kids Definition

summer

1 of 3 noun

sum·​mer ˈsəm-ər 

1

: the season between spring and autumn that usually includes the months of June, July, and August in the northern hemisphere

2

: the warmer half of the year

3

: one of the years of one's life

a child of eight summers

4

: a time of fulfillment

summer

2 of 3 adjective

: of or for the summer

summer flowers

a summer job

summer

3 of 3 verb

summered; summering ˈsəm-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to pass the summer

2

: to keep or carry through the summer

especially : to provide (as cattle or sheep) with pasture during the summer