summer

play

noun sum·mer \ˈsə-mər\

Definition of summer

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

play \-ˌlīk\ adjective

See summer defined for English-language learners

See summer defined for kids

Examples of summer in a Sentence

What are your plans for this summer?
We visited them two summers ago.
the first day of summer

Recent Examples of summer from the Web

Public Relations & Volunteer Manager Genie McAleer Baker said that donations normally tend to drop off during the summer months, because many people don't think of it as a time of need.

— lawrence specker, AL.com, "Salvation Army in Mobile: Food donations 'desperately' needed", 6 July 2017
The room with the bunk beds reminds me of my childhood summers at the lake.

— kathleen hackett, House Beautiful, "This Ginormous Entertaining Space Puts the "Great" in Great Room", 5 July 2017
Performed by grade-school summer campers at 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW Ninth St., Delray Beach.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "South Florida family events: Kids Day at the MLB FanFest, art events, stage shows", 5 July 2017
The royal paired her new summer haircut with a black-and-white polka dot dress from Dolce and Gabbana, strappy sandals, Oscar de la Renta pearl earrings, and a simple white Victoria Beckham handbag.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "See Kate Middleton's New Haircut from Every Angle", 5 July 2017
Cravory Cookies in North County has crafted a summer sundae menu.

— carolina gusman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "National Ice Cream Month: Every day's a sundae in July", 5 July 2017
The collection will also feature a notebook, pencil pouch, and keychain pouch in the summer icon print and a circular lunch bag in the striped pattern.

— lyndsey matthews, Cosmopolitan, "Starbucks Just Launched A Second Collaboration With Ban.do", 5 July 2017
Each summer, guided by the light of the moon, some of the world’s strangest inhabitants ascend the East Coast’s beaches to spawn the next generation.

— camilla cerea, Smithsonian, "Forget Dinos: Horseshoe Crabs Are Stranger, More Ancient—And Still Alive Today", 5 July 2017
McMillon had also designed the new Sheriff's Office shoulder patch, which went into effect last summer.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "'Tribute' vehicle honoring fallen Harford deputies is unveiled by Sheriff's Office", 3 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'summer'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of summer

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

NEW!

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial

summer

adjective sum·mer

Definition of summer

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

Recent Examples of summer from the Web

Summer’s here and the time is right for a stoner movie America can believe in.

— tom keogh, The Seattle Times, "‘Ripped’ review: Mildly amusing stoner comedy goes up in smoke", 22 June 2017
Children’s Summer Reading: every school-age child, kindergarten through fifth grade will receive an official Super Reader backpack and passes to local attractions.

— The Courier-Journal, "50+ fun things for week of June 22-28", 21 June 2017
Loving beer, craving waves Summer time, and the brewing is easy for Josh Schaner.

— peter rowe, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Pizza Port Solana Beach, where the surf meets the beer", 15 June 2017
Summer sculptures: Painted benches in the shape of an open book go on display downtown Naperville starting Friday.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville", 13 June 2017
Summer reading at schools Students who were enrolled in a Keller district school during the 2016-17 school year may check books out at any of eight libraries the district has open this summer.

— star-telegram, "Keller School District approves new superintendent; launches summer reading", 5 June 2017
Fueling growth are social media websites, such as Weibo, Youku, iQiyi and Tudou, that women are increasingly turning to for tutorials on everything from shading eyes to highlighting cheekbones. Summer Scent In Shanghai,

— daniela wei, Bloomberg.com, "Bloggers Touting Makeup Secrets Spur Estee Lauder's China Sales", 31 May 2017
Visit http://www.kofcknights.org/CouncilSite/index.asp?CNO=3274 Summer camps Summer is just around the corner.

— miamiherald, "Killian boys’ volleyball, Southridge girls’ track win state", 28 May 2017
Summer theater season to begin with a Splash of Red The Dunes Summer Theatre season will kick off with a Splash of Red special event at 5:30 p.m. June 3 at 288 Shady Oak Drive, Michigan City.

— Post-Tribune, "Neighbors briefs", 26 May 2017

First Known Use of summer

14th century

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial

summer

verb sum·mer

Definition of summer

summered

;

summering

play \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

See summer defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of summer from the Web

Where would Summer after the 10 years that have passed since the show’s series finale?

— maureen lee lenker, PEOPLE.com, "Return to Summer? Rachel Bilson Says She's Open to a Revival of The O.C.!", 23 June 2017
Wealthy families have summered here for generations — bringing with them their cars.

— michelle r. smith, The Seattle Times, "Car lovers’ Newport: 2 museums highlight design on wheels", 19 June 2017
Summering in Florence, Ambrose meets another cousin, Rachel—the exact relations are imprecise, with nearly everyone in the story seeming to be cousin to everyone else—falls in love, and marries her.

— christopher orr, The Atlantic, "The Disappointments of My Cousin Rachel", 9 June 2017
Free For All DEERFIELD BEACH SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL Annual family-friendly event features live local bands and DJs, a kids’ Fun Zone, water slides, arts & crafts, a Wing Warrior contest, and food vendors.

— michael hamersly, miamiherald, "Family-friendly things to do: Celebrate Caribbean heritage, eat fresh fruit", 5 June 2017
It's been a long school year and hard-working teachers have earned some fun as school lets out and summer kicks off.

— doreen christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Just for teachers: Free Orlando theme park tickets, big savings on Disney hotels", 19 May 2017
The Trump family has summered at the club for years.

— john wagner, Washington Post, "After the ‘Winter White House’ in Fla., Trump shifts to ‘Camp David North’ in N.J.", 5 May 2017
Gilded Age plutocrats hunted fox and summered in these hills.

— stephen heyman, New York Times, "Travel Dispatch Newsletter", 27 July 2016

First Known Use of summer

15th century

SUMMER Defined for English Language Learners

summer

play

noun

Definition of summer for English Language Learners

: the warmest season of the year that is after spring and before autumn

summer

verb

Definition of summer for English Language Learners

: to spend the summer in a particular place

SUMMER Defined for Kids

summer

play

noun sum·mer \ˈsə-mər\

Definition of summer for Students

1 : the season between spring and autumn which is in the northern hemisphere usually the months of June, July, and August
2 : one of the years of a person's lifetime a youth of sixteen summers