Meaning & use
summer vacation
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountableAmerican
the period in summer when schools and universities are closed and students do not have classes.
Grammar: Often used with 'the' or 'a'; can be uncountable when talking about the general time.
Patterns
- on summer vacation
- during the summer vacation
- the summer vacation
The children are on summer vacation for two months.
We usually go to the beach during summer vacation.
She got a summer job during the summer vacation.
nouncountable
a holiday taken during the summer, especially by families or workers.
Grammar: Used for any summer trip, not just school breaks.
Patterns
- take a summer vacation
- go on a summer vacation
They took a summer vacation in Italy.
Our summer vacation was relaxing.
Word forms
| plural | summer vacations |
|---|
Common combinations
- on summer vacation
- The kids are on summer vacation now.
- summer vacation starts
- Summer vacation starts next week.
- a long summer vacation
- They enjoyed a long summer vacation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- summer holiday
- The usual British term for the same idea.
- summer break
- More informal and often used for shorter breaks.
Commonly confused: summer vacation or summer holidays?
summer vacation vs summer holidays
British English uses 'holiday' where American English uses 'vacation'.
Practice
In the US, students are usually ___ summer vacation in July.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'on summer vacation'. 'In' would be used for a month or year, not for the vacation period.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “summer vacation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.