calender
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A chart or series of pages showing the days, weeks, and months of a particular year, used for organizing time and planning events.
Any system for fixing the beginning, length, and divisions of the year (e.g., the Gregorian calendar); a list or schedule of planned events or activities for an organization.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word refers both to the physical object (a wall calendar) and the abstract system of organizing time. It is also used metaphorically for schedules and agendas.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Minor spelling preference for '-ar' ending in both varieties. The pronunciation of the final syllable may vary slightly.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Associated with organization, time management, and planning.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
check + [calendar]mark + [event] + on the + [calendar]clear + [possessive] + calendar[calendar] + shows + [date/event]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Calendar girls”
- “His number came up on the calendar (obsolete)”
- “Turn the calendar back”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for scheduling meetings, deadlines, and project timelines (e.g., 'Please block out the 15th on the team calendar.').
Academic
Refers to the academic year schedule, including term dates, exams, and holidays.
Everyday
Refers to a physical or digital object for tracking dates, birthdays, and appointments.
Technical
In computing, a software application for managing dates and events; in history/astronomy, a system of time reckoning.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to calendar the board meetings for the next quarter.
- The court clerk will calendar the hearing for early May.
American English
- She calendared all her client calls for the month.
- The motion was calendared for a vote next week.
adverb
British English
- This is calculated calendar monthly.
- (Usage as adverb is highly rare and non-standard.)
American English
- Payments are made calendar quarterly.
- (Adverbial use is very uncommon.)
adjective
British English
- The calendar month for reporting is April.
- We observe the calendar year for financial purposes.
American English
- Your calendar reminder just popped up.
- We need the calendar dates for the audit.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My birthday is on the calendar.
- Look at the calendar to see what day it is.
- We have a picture calendar on the kitchen wall.
- I've marked the dentist appointment on my calendar.
- The school calendar shows when the holidays are.
- According to the calendar, spring starts in March.
- You'll need to consult the academic calendar for submission deadlines.
- Her social calendar is completely full for the next fortnight.
- The project timeline is integrated into the shared digital calendar.
- The Gregorian calendar was introduced to correct drift in the Julian calendar.
- The court has calendared the trial for the autumn session.
- We operate on a fiscal year that doesn't align with the standard calendar year.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CALEndar helps you CALL and plan ENDs of tasks.'
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE TO BE ORGANIZED (The calendar parcels out time into manageable units).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: Russian 'календарь' is a direct cognate and matches the meaning perfectly.
- Potential confusion with 'calender' (a machine for smoothing paper) due to spelling.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'calender' (which is a different word).
- Using 'diary' interchangeably where 'calendar' (for future planning) is more precise.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a common metaphorical use of 'calendar'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A calendar typically shows days, weeks, and months at a glance for planning future events. A diary is often for recording past experiences or daily thoughts, though the terms can overlap (e.g., a 'desk diary' for appointments).
Yes, especially in formal, business, or legal contexts, meaning 'to schedule or enter in a calendar' (e.g., 'The meeting was calendared for Tuesday').
The Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar used for most official and business purposes.
'Calender' (with an 'e') is a completely different word meaning a machine for smoothing paper or cloth. The time-organization word is always spelled 'calendar' (with an 'a').