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Glite Dictionary
daylight savings

daylight savings

4 3.2
People set clocks one hour ahead in spring to make evenings lighter
  • noun
  • /ˈdeɪˌlaɪt ˈseɪvɪŋz/
  • US
translation icon : horario de verano
  • During daylight savings time, we set our clocks forward one hour in the spring.
  • daylight savings time

I really enjoy daylight savings time.

Examples

  • Also a friendly reminder to set your clocks ahead for daylight savings time.

    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

  • But really, I live in Arizona, one of two states that doesn't do daylight savings.

    Blog text (3)

  • And l want to end daylight savings time.

    The Campaign (2012)

  • Everyone at work kept saying it was daylight savings time.

    Seven Pounds (2008)

  • It's daylight savings time again.

    Double Dragon (1994)

  • Thanks to daylight savings, I got an extra hour of sleep the night before the race.

    Blog text (14)

  • What's your position on daylight savings time?

    Twixt (2011)

  • I am already dreading daylight savings time and how early Charlie will get up.

    Blog text (13)

  • For example, a number of studies indicate that on the day we "spring forward" for daylight savings time, traffic accidents spike higher than average.

    Blog text (21)

  • We still hadn't decided by Sunday morning, but we found out that Daylight Savings Time would be observed, and we got to church on time.

    Blog text (23)

Synonyms

daylight saving
vsdaylight savings
  • US
11 3.0

Setting clocks forward one hour during some months to have more daylight in the evening

is limited to the summer months rather than any months
daylight-savings time
vsdaylight savings
  • US
2 3.6

To move clocks forward by one hour in the warmer months to make evenings lighter

is the shorter form that omits that naming noun
daylight-saving time
vsdaylight savings
  • UK
1 3.1

People turn clocks forward one hour in summer to make evenings lighter

is written without a hyphen while keeping identical meaning

Antonyms

standard time
2 3.0

Official time used in a region instead of daylight saving time

Surface Forms

daylight savings singular
daylight savings plural

Morphology

daylight + saving

The components 'daylight' (sunlight) and 'saving' (conserving) transparently suggest the idea of preserving or extending daylight, so a learner would likely infer a general notion of 'saving daylight.' However, the specific convention—advancing clocks by one hour—is a culturally specific practice that is not directly derivable from the words (and the plural 'savings' is idiomatic), so full meaning requires prior exposure or cultural knowledge.

Etymology

The term daylight savings comes from the idea of 'saving' daylight by setting clocks ahead in spring so evenings have more light. That's why it now means the practice of changing clocks to give people longer evenings.