summer

noun sum·mer \ ˈsə-mər \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

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 \ˈsə-mər-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

Cool ice cream dripping down the side of a cone is one of summer’s purest pleasures.

— anna thomas bates, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Homemade strawberry shortcake ice cream a magical summer treat," 13 June 2018
Free Press sports columnist Shawn Windsor and writer Carlos Monarrez debate the most pressing topic of the 2018 summer: Who is the greatest player all-time from Detroit's sports teams?

— dana sulonen, Detroit Free Press, "Vote for the greatest player in Detroit pro sports team history," 11 June 2018
On the weekly contender series that runs through a majority of the summer, White, the UFC president, takes in the five-fight shows and offers contracts to select winners that impress him the most.

— staff reports, latimes.com, "Sports Briefs: Menifield takes another shot at UFC contract," 11 June 2018
Families can spend much of the summer doing things together at minimal costs.

— Daily Southtown, "Speak Out," 8 June 2018
When the relative warmth of the Martian summer warms the ices a little, some methane seeps out.

— The Economist, "Seasonal changes in Mars’s air are probably not signs of life. Probably," 7 June 2018
Those levels of methane, however, were found to range from 0.2 to about 0.7 parts per billion, with concentrations peaking near the end of the summer in the northern hemisphere, according to a study published today in Science.

— alessandra potenza, The Verge, "NASA’s Curiosity rover discovers that methane on Mars changes with the seasons," 7 June 2018
Two years ago, on a September evening in the waning days of summer, a heroin dealer named Robert Bishun was found dead in the Bronx.

— benjamin weiser, New York Times, "Days Before Murder Trial, Prosecutors Reveal a Missing Confession," 6 June 2018
As the heat drops its hammer, my personal quest for the cool drinks of summer cranks up again, a sure sign that the season has turned.

— alison cook, Houston Chronicle, "Drink this: Kernel of Truth cocktail at Coltivare," 6 June 2018

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! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial

summer

adjective

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

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Summer’s coming to an end, but the fun doesn’t have to.

— cleveland.com, "10 new travel ideas for late summer, close to Cleveland (photos)," 25 Aug. 2017
Summer exhibition of Italian artists features work from painter Malacarne's Water series and glassworks from Vidal.

— luann gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Free and fun events this weekend: Aug. 18-20," 16 Aug. 2017
Summer league play has been good for the Dallas Mavericks.

— david humphrey, star-telegram, "Mavericks add rookie free agent guard P.J. Dozier," 8 Aug. 2017
Summer seersucker suits from the Alan Flusser brand come from Stein Mart.

— cristina bolling, charlotteobserver, "5 style lessons from a former CLT homicide cop now on TV – who’s also a fashionista," 3 Aug. 2017
Summer’s heat and humidity make a face full of makeup feel oppressive.

— crystal martin, New York Times, "How to Go Makeup-Free This Summer," 1 Aug. 2017
Summer rains can cause container plants to decline; check for proper drainage.

— tom maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "August in the garden," 29 July 2017
Summer heat can wilt and stress plants during the day.

— milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Summer salad tips," 18 July 2017
Summer reading programs in South Florida libraries and bookstores encourage students to keep reading during the school break.

— South Florida Parenting, "Summer reading: Books to keep kids learning," 3 July 2017

First Known Use of summer

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial

summer

verb

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

In 1999, Bob and Jan moved to Sun City Center, FL to avoid the harsh New England winters but kept close contact with their New England friends and family by summering in Otis, MA.

— courant.com, "Robert Dixon Shangraw," 15 June 2018
The family summered in Lebanon, and Patricia, a tomboy, learned to hunt and fish all over Iraq.

— marcia desanctis, Town & Country, "The Strange Saga of Trump Winery," 14 Oct. 2016
Houseplants summering outdoors in the shade also make a handsome addition to container gardening.

— the editors of organic life, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need To Know About Container Gardening," 1 June 2017
Alternate idea for these employers: send everybody to summer camp?

— michelle ruiz, Vogue, "Having An Attractive Woman Rub Your Shoulders While You Work Is Now a Job Perk at Some Chinese Startups," 25 Apr. 2018
Upon retirement Betty and Watson wintered in Jensen Beach Fl and summered in Old Lyme CT.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Elizabeth Dee," 1 Apr. 2018
Born in Dublin, raised in New York and active throughout Europe, Saint-Gaudens summered in New Hampshire, then spent his final years there, at his home and studio in Cornish.

— anita gates, New York Times, "From 12th Century B.C. to 2017, Art in Startling Variety," 7 Mar. 2018
Their renovation projects have included two Upper East Side townhouses as well as Lasata, the nearly 12-acre East Hampton estate where Jackie Kennedy Onassis summered as a child.

— christina binkley, WSJ, "The Secret Inside Tiffany’s Blue Box: Reed Krakoff," 26 Mar. 2018
While Chalamet, who plays a teenager summering in Italy in the early 1980s, sports an inexpensive digital watch on a black rubber strap, Stuhlbarg’s archaeology professor wears a stainless-steel Rolex – and that’s likely no accident, Boutros says.

— laurie brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, "Winning Watches: 5 Timepieces to Spot in This Year’s Crop of Oscar-Nominated Films," 6 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of summer

15th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SUMMER Defined for English Language Learners

summer

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

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

summer

verb

Definition of summer for Students

summered; summering

: to pass the summer

We summered at the shore.

Learn More about summer

See words that rhyme with summer Spanish Central: Translation of summer Nglish: Translation of summer for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of summer for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about summer

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summer

Definition of summer

summerlike

Examples of summer in a Sentence

Recent Examples of summer from the Web

Origin and Etymology of summer

Other Calendar Terms

summer

Definition of summer

Recent Examples of summer from the Web

First Known Use of summer

Other Calendar Terms

summer

Definition of summer

Recent Examples of summer from the Web

First Known Use of summer

Phrases Related to SUMMER

Related Phrases

SUMMER Defined for English Language Learners

summer

Definition of summer for English Language Learners

summer

Definition of summer for English Language Learners

SUMMER Defined for Kids

summer

Definition of summer for Students

summer

Definition of summer for Students

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