Sumer

American  

[soo-mer] / ˈsu mər /

noun

1. an ancient region in southern Mesopotamia that contained a number of independent cities and city-states of which the first were established possibly as early as 5000 b.c.: conquered by the Elamites and, about 2000 b.c., by the Babylonians; a number of its cities, as Ur, Uruk, Kish, and Lagash, are major archaeological sites in southern Iraq.

---

Sumer British  

/ ˈsuːmə /

noun

1. the S region of Babylonia; seat of a civilization of city-states that reached its height in the 3rd millennium _bc

---

Example Sentences

The research suggests that the emergence of Sumer, often called the cradle of civilization, was not solely the result of human ingenuity but also of powerful natural forces.

From Science Daily • Oct. 27, 2025

"Our results show that Sumer was literally and culturally built on the rhythms of water," said Giosan.

From Science Daily • Oct. 27, 2025

During a visit, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, said, “Chile can do greater things,” which made locals hopeful one day the Sumer Olympics could come to their city.

From Washington Times • Nov. 5, 2023

Sumer and indeed all of Mesopotamia was conquered by Sargon of Akkad, who created the first-known empire, in this case, a number of regional powers under the control of one person.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

She lay down in the field beside them and sang "Sumer Is Icumen in," her voice drifting over the meadow grasses, carried by the wind.

From "Sarah, Plain and Tall" by Patricia MacLachlan