summer time: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to informal
Quick answer
What does “summer time” mean?
The period of the year when the weather is warmest, typically from June to August in the northern hemisphere.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The period of the year when the weather is warmest, typically from June to August in the northern hemisphere.
1. The period of daylight saving time when clocks are set one hour ahead of standard time (British English). 2. A carefree, enjoyable period associated with holidays, leisure, and youth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'summer time' (capitalised: Summer Time) is the official term for daylight saving time (e.g., British Summer Time - BST). In American English, this concept is called 'daylight saving time' or 'daylight time'. The season is more commonly referred to as 'summertime' (one word) in the US.
Connotations
UK: Strong association with the daylight saving period and the season. US: Primarily connotes the warm season, leisure, and the song 'Summertime'.
Frequency
In the seasonal sense, both are common. The daylight saving sense is high-frequency in UK news and official communications during clock changes.
Grammar
How to Use “summer time” in a Sentence
[during/in] + summer timesummer time + [for/of] + activity/nounsummer time + [is/was] + adjectiveVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “summer time” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The summer-time schedule is now in effect.
- We love those long summer-time evenings.
American English
- Summertime weather is perfect for a barbecue.
- It's a classic summertime activity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in tourism, retail, and HR for seasonal planning (e.g., 'summer time opening hours').
Academic
Used in climatology, sociology, and economics to denote a seasonal period (e.g., 'effects observed during summer time').
Everyday
Very common in general conversation about weather, holidays, and plans.
Technical
In horology and computing, refers to the daylight saving time system and its implementation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “summer time”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “summer time”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “summer time”
- Using 'summer time' to translate the American 'daylight saving time'.
- Capitalising it incorrectly when not referring to the official time system (BST).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Summer time' (two words) is the standard form for the season and is the British term for daylight saving. 'Summertime' (one word) is a common variant, especially in American English, for the season and often has a more evocative, informal feel.
No. It is only capitalised when it is part of the official name for daylight saving time, e.g., 'British Summer Time (BST)'. When referring to the season, it is in lowercase.
Yes, often hyphenated as 'summer-time' (e.g., summer-time job, summer-time hours). The one-word form 'summertime' is also used adjectivally, especially in American English.
Several European languages do, including German ('Sommerzeit') and Russian ('летнее время'), where the term can mean both the season and the daylight saving period, leading to potential confusion in translation.
The period of the year when the weather is warmest, typically from June to August in the northern hemisphere.
Summer time is usually neutral to informal in register.
Summer time: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌmə taɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌmər taɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A woman's heart is like summer time; always changing.”
- “Summer time and the living is easy.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'summer time' as the TIME for SUMmer activities.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A SEASON (Summer time is a period of life associated with growth, warmth, and leisure).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English does 'summer time' commonly refer to daylight saving time?