English Reference

Word

session

Phoneticsses·sion, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈsɛʃən/

UK/sˈɛʃən/

Definitions

01a period for an activity

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a period of time used for a specific activity, like a workout or a meeting.

n. a period of time devoted to a particular activity, often scheduled or structured.

“I have a training session with my coach at the gym tomorrow morning.”

“The therapist scheduled a follow-up session to discuss the progress made over the last month of treatment.”

02official meeting

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law Formal

n. a formal meeting of a group of people, like a court or a government.

n. an official meeting or series of meetings of a legislative, judicial, or deliberative body.

“The court is in session, so everyone must remain quiet.”

“Parliament is currently in its summer session, debating several key pieces of environmental legislation before the recess.”

03computing connection

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing Technical

n. the time you spend connected to a computer system or website.

n. the period during which a user is logged into a system or the duration of a specific connection between a client and a server.

“Your login session has expired, so please enter your password again.”

“The web application uses cookies to maintain the user's session across multiple page requests.”

Synonyms

04academic term

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Education

n. a part of the school year, like a semester.

n. an academic term or a specific period during which a university or school holds classes.

“She decided to take extra classes during the summer session to graduate early.”

“The university offers a condensed winter session for students wishing to complete their elective requirements ahead of schedule.”

Synonyms

05music performance

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Music Informal

n. an informal meeting where musicians play together.

n. an informal gathering of musicians to play music, often used in the context of folk or jazz.

“We went to the pub to listen to a traditional Irish music session.”

“The local jazz club hosts an open session every Tuesday night where amateur musicians can play alongside professionals.”

Synonyms

jam sessiongig

06drinking period

C1 · Advanced Countable noun British English · Informal

n. a long period of time spent drinking alcohol, usually beer.

n. an extended period of social drinking, typically involving several pints of low-alcohol beer.

“The fans went on a long session at the bar after the game ended.”

“They settled in for a Saturday afternoon session, enjoying the mild weather and the local brewery's latest ales.”

Usage

Often used with 'on a' as in 'on a session'.

Synonyms

drinking bout

07to play music together

C2 · Proficiency Music Slang

v. to play music informally with other people.

v. to participate in an informal musical performance or jam session.

“The band spent the whole weekend sessioning in the garage to find a new sound.”

“After the main concert, several performers stayed late to session with the local opening act.”

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “session” in context.

Verb

01. attend a session

“All new employees are required to attend a training session on workplace safety.”

verb + noun

02. chair the session

“Professor Miller will chair the afternoon session of the conference.”

verb + noun

03. hold a session

“The committee will hold a special session to discuss the budget cuts next Tuesday.”

verb + noun

Adjective

04. brainstorming session

“Let's schedule a brainstorming session to come up with some fresh ideas for the project.”

adj + noun

05. joint session

“The two departments held a joint session to coordinate their marketing strategies.”

adj + noun

06. productive session

“We had a very productive session and managed to solve most of the technical issues.”

adj + noun

Preposition

07. during the session

“Participants are encouraged to ask questions during the session.”

prep + noun

08. in session

“Please be quiet in the hallway because the court is currently in session.”

prep + noun

Real-World Examples

“The BBC's Kelly NG joined a training session to see their moves first-hand.”
BBC News 14 Aug 2026
“Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters During trainings, organizers asked people not to record the sessions, Gonzalez Avalos said.”
The Guardian 13 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English session, from Old French session, from Latin sessiō (“a sitting”), from sedeō (“sit”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms

Domains

ComputingEducationMusic

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference