Meaning & use
British Summer Time
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproperBritish
The time used in the United Kingdom during the warmer months, one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Grammar: Capitalized and used without an article: the clocks go forward for British Summer Time.
Patterns
- during British Summer Time
- at 6 pm British Summer Time
British Summer Time begins on the last Sunday in March.
The match starts at 3 pm British Summer Time.
During British Summer Time, the evenings stay light until late.
proper nounproperBritish
The period of the year, from spring to autumn, when the United Kingdom keeps its clocks one hour ahead.
Grammar: Refers to the season, not the clock itself: we are in British Summer Time.
Patterns
- when British Summer Time starts
- British Summer Time ends
British Summer Time ends in October, and the mornings become brighter.
Farmers disliked British Summer Time at first, because of the early milking.
We are now in British Summer Time, so the sun sets late.
Common combinations
- British Summer Time begins
- British Summer Time begins when the clocks go forward in March.
- British Summer Time ends
- British Summer Time ends when the clocks go back in October.
- in British Summer Time
- Sunset is after nine in British Summer Time.
- the start of British Summer Time
- The start of British Summer Time caught many people out.
- BST
- The meeting is at 10 BST.
Synonyms and how they differ
- daylight saving time
- This is the general term used in many countries, while British Summer Time is the specific name for the UK's version.
- summer time
- This is a shorter general name for the practice, used in the UK and Europe, but without the specific UK label.
- BST
- This is the common abbreviation and is usually used in schedules, while the full name appears in formal writing.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: British Summer Time or Greenwich Mean Time? British Summer Time or BST (Bangladesh Standard Time)?
British Summer Time vs Greenwich Mean Time
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the standard time used in winter in the UK, whereas British Summer Time is one hour ahead of it.
British Summer Time vs BST (Bangladesh Standard Time)
The abbreviation BST is also used for Bangladesh Standard Time, so add the full name if context is unclear.
Practice
When British Summer Time begins in March, people in the UK move their clocks ___ by one hour.
Choose one answer.
British Summer Time is one hour ahead of GMT, so clocks go forward. Backward is what happens in October when BST ends.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “British Summer Time”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.