midsummer

IPA/ˌmɪdˈsʌmə(r)/
KK[mˈɪdsˈʌmɚ]IPA/ˌmɪdˈsʌmər/

midsummer — noun

1. the warmest weeks of the summer season, usually from late June through July in t

1.nounB1
Definition

the warmest weeks of the summer season, usually from late June through July in the Northern Hemisphere, when school holidays often begin and many outdoor activities take place

Example

The Watanabe family always goes to the beach during midsummer to escape the heat.

collocation: 'during midsummer' / 'in midsummer'

By midsummer, the vegetable garden at Tuan's house was full of ripe tomatoes.

temporal phrase: 'by midsummer'

Common collocations
  • midsummer heat
  • midsummer night
  • midsummer festival
  • midsummer holiday
  • midsummer weather
Synonyms
  • high summer

    British English term for the same period, slightly more literary

  • summer

    broader term covering the entire season, not just the warmest weeks

Antonyms
  • midwinter

    the middle of the winter season, opposite seasonal midpoint

Grammar Patterns

in midsummer

during midsummer

by midsummer

Usage Note

Often used without an article (in midsummer, by midsummer). When modified by an adjective, an article may appear (a hot midsummer). This sense contrasts with midwinter as the opposite seasonal midpoint.

Common Mistakes

We had a picnic in the midsummer.
We had a picnic in midsummer.
'midsummer' as a time period is uncountable and usually does not take an article.

2. the exact day each year when the Sun reaches its highest midday position in the

2.nounB2
Definition

the exact day each year when the Sun reaches its highest midday position in the sky, giving the most daylight hours; occurs around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and December 22 in the Southern Hemisphere, and is often marked by cultural festivals

Example

Vinícius and his friends stayed up to watch the midsummer sunrise from the hill.

In many cultures, midsummer is a time for dancing, singing, and outdoor feasts.

collocation: 'midsummer is a time for [activity]'

Common collocations
  • midsummer celebrations
  • midsummer sunrise
  • midsummer's day
  • midsummer traditions
  • midsummer festival
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

at midsummer

on midsummer's day

the midsummer of [year]

Usage Note

May be capitalised when referring to a specific cultural festival (Midsummer in Sweden). In astronomy, refers to the exact moment of the solstice, though in everyday speech it names the whole day. The Southern Hemisphere experiences midsummer in December.

Common Mistakes

Midsummer is the hottest day of the year.
Midsummer has the most daylight of the year.
Midsummer gives the longest day, but the hottest weather often arrives weeks later.

Word family

  • midsummer's day
    noun phraseB2
  • midwinter
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four refer to the warm season, but they differ in precision and register. 'Midsummer' points to the central, warmest part of summer — typically late June through July in the Northern Hemisphere. 'High summer' is a more literary British expression that evokes the peak of the season's heat and lushness. 'Summer' covers the full three-month stretch from June to September, making it much broader. 'Summertime' is an informal, everyday word that can mean either the whole season or the holiday period associated with it. For example, you would say 'The garden looks its best in midsummer' to highlight the peak bloom period, but 'I love summer because school is out' to refer to the entire season. Choosing between them depends on whether you want a general seasonal reference ('summer'), a casual feel ('summertime'), or a precise focus on the warmest weeks ('midsummer' or the more literary 'high summer').

midsummer ↗high summersummer ↗summertime ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • at the height of midsummer
  • on midsummer's day
  • in the middle of midsummer

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Midsummer comes from Old English 'midsumor', a compound of 'mid' (middle) and 'sumor' (summer). The word has been used for over a thousand years to describe both the warmest part of the summer season and the summer solstice celebrations that have deep roots in northern European pagan traditions.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1