high season: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal; common in travel, tourism, and business contexts.
Quick answer
What does “high season” mean?
The period of the year when a tourist destination, service, or activity is most popular and therefore most expensive.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The period of the year when a tourist destination, service, or activity is most popular and therefore most expensive.
Any peak period of demand, activity, or popularity for a particular industry, product, or service.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Peak season' is a common synonym in both varieties, though 'high season' is the standard term in the travel industry globally.
Connotations
Identical connotations of expense, crowds, and optimal conditions.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both UK and US English within the travel sector.
Grammar
How to Use “high season” in a Sentence
The high season for [activity/destination] is [time period].It's [destination]'s high season.Prices rise during the high season.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “high season” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- We paid a high-season supplement.
- The high-season crowds were overwhelming.
American English
- They charge high-season rates from June onward.
- High-season traffic is terrible.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in tourism, hospitality, and retail to denote periods of maximum revenue and operational demand.
Academic
Used in economics, tourism studies, and human geography to analyze seasonal demand patterns.
Everyday
Common in travel planning conversations and holiday discussions.
Technical
A defined term in the travel industry, often with specific calendar dates for different regions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “high season”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “high season”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “high season”
- Using 'high season' for any busy period at work (prefer 'peak period' or 'busy time').
- Confusing with 'holiday season' (which is a specific festive period).
- Writing as one word: 'highseason'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it varies by destination. For Mediterranean beaches, it's summer; for Alpine ski resorts, it's winter; for cities, it might be during major events or conferences.
They are virtually synonymous in everyday use. 'High season' is slightly more common in formal tourism contexts, while 'peak season' can be used more broadly for any industry.
Yes, metaphorically. For example, 'December is the high season for toy retailers.' However, in non-travel contexts, 'peak period' or 'busy season' might be more natural.
The direct opposite is 'low season' or 'off-season', meaning the period with the fewest tourists and lowest prices. 'Shoulder season' refers to the periods between high and low seasons.
The period of the year when a tourist destination, service, or activity is most popular and therefore most expensive.
High season is usually neutral to formal; common in travel, tourism, and business contexts. in register.
High season: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈsiːzn̩/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈsiːzn̩/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In the thick of the high season.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a thermometer: HIGH season = HIGH prices, HIGH temperatures (for summer resorts), and HIGH numbers of tourists.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A COMMODITY (with fluctuating value); SEASONS ARE CONTAINERS (with varying levels of activity).
Practice
Quiz
In the context of a tropical island, 'high season' most likely refers to which period?