Seven Sisters

Meanings

1. 1proper nounpluralBritish

   A group of seven chalk cliffs on the south coast of England, near the town of Seaford in East Sussex.

   Grammar: Takes a plural verb: The Seven Sisters are a famous landmark.

   Patterns

   • the Seven Sisters
   • visit the Seven Sisters
   • walk along the Seven Sisters

   We hiked along the Seven Sisters and watched the waves far below.

   The Seven Sisters are a popular spot for photographers at sunset.

2. 2proper nounpluralAmerican

   A group of seven well-known women's colleges in the northeastern United States, traditionally seen as the female equivalent of the Ivy League.

   Grammar: Takes a plural verb and is mainly used in American English: The Seven Sisters have a long history.

   Patterns

   • the Seven Sisters
   • attend one of the Seven Sisters
   • a Seven Sisters college

   She applied to several of the Seven Sisters because of their strong liberal arts programs.

   The Seven Sisters were founded in the nineteenth century to give women access to higher education.

3. 3proper nounplural

   Any of several groups of seven similar things, such as seven oil companies or seven hills, depending on context.

   Grammar: Often used with a clarifying phrase: the Seven Sisters of the oil industry.

   Patterns

   • the Seven Sisters of something
   • the Seven Sisters oil companies

   In the twentieth century, the Seven Sisters dominated the global oil industry.

   Tour guides often mention the Seven Sisters, a set of seven hills around the city.

Common combinations

the Seven Sisters cliffs

The Seven Sisters cliffs attract thousands of walkers each year.

the Seven Sisters colleges

She graduated from one of the Seven Sisters colleges in Massachusetts.

the Seven Sisters of the oil industry

Historians still debate how the Seven Sisters of the oil industry shaped global politics.

Commonly confused: Seven Sisters or seven sister?

Practice

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