# school

/ˈskuɫ/ (US) · /skˈuːl/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/school
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a place where people go to learn from teachers. It can also mean the time you spend there or the group of people in the building.

For teachers: an institution for the instruction of students, typically those in primary or secondary education. Also used to refer to the student body or the period of instruction.

## Examples

- The children walk to school every morning.
- After the summer holidays, the local school prepares to welcome a new group of students into the first grade.
- While the physical school remains closed for renovations, the administration has moved all classes to a digital platform to ensure the curriculum stays on schedule for the upcoming exams.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am at the school now" but "I am at school now" — When talking about being a student or attending classes, 'school' is used without an article.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the institution or the activity of learning ('at school', 'go to school'); countable when referring to a specific building.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.