day

¹

[ dey ]

noun

1. the interval of light between two successive nights; the time between sunrise and sunset:

   Since there was no artificial illumination, all activities had to be carried on during the day.

2. the light of day; daylight:

   The owl sleeps by day and feeds by night.

3. Astronomy.
   1. Also called mean solar day. a division of time equal to 24 hours and representing the average length of the period during which the earth makes one rotation on its axis.
   2. Also called solar day none. a division of time equal to the time elapsed between two consecutive returns of the same terrestrial meridian to the sun.
   3. Also called civil day. a division of time equal to 24 hours but reckoned from one midnight to the next. lunar day none, sidereal day none.
4. an analogous division of time for a planet other than the earth:

   the Martian day.

5. the portion of a day allotted to work:

   an eight-hour day.

6. a day on which something occurs:

   the day we met.

7. (often initial capital letter) a day assigned to a particular purpose or observance:

   New Year's Day.

8. a time considered as propitious or opportune:

   His day will come.

9. a day of contest or the contest itself:

   to win the day.

10. Often . a particular time or period:

    the present day; in days of old.

11. Usually . period of life or activity:

    His days are numbered.

12. period of existence, power, or influence:

    in the day of the dinosaurs.

13. Architecture. light ¹( def 19a ).

Day

²

[ dey ]

noun

1. Benjamin Henry, 1810–89, U.S. newspaper publisher.
2. Clar·ence (Shep·ard) [klar, -, uh, ns , shep, -erd], 1874–1935, U.S. author.
3. Dorothy, 1897–1980, U.S. Roman Catholic social activist, journalist, and publisher.
4. Also Daye. Stephen, 1594?–1668, U.S. colonist, born in England: considered the first printer in the Colonies.

Day

¹

/ deɪ /

noun

1. DaySir Robin19232000MBritishFILMS AND TV: radio journalistFILMS AND TV: television journalist Sir Robin. 1923–2000, British radio and television journalist, noted esp for his political interviews

day

²

/ deɪ /

noun

1. Also calledcivil day the period of time, the calendar day, of 24 hours' duration reckoned from one midnight to the next
2. 1. the period of light between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from the night
   2. ( as modifier )

      the day shift

3. the part of a day occupied with regular activity, esp work

   he took a day off

4. sometimes plural a period or point in time

   he was a good singer in his day

   in days gone by

   any day now

5. the period of time, the sidereal day, during which the earth makes one complete revolution on its axis relative to a particular star. The mean sidereal day lasts 23 hours 56 minutes 4.1 seconds of the mean solar day
6. the period of time, the solar day, during which the earth makes one complete revolution on its axis relative to the sun. The mean solar day is the average length of the apparent solar day and is some four minutes (3 minutes 56.5 seconds of sidereal time) longer than the sidereal day
7. the period of time taken by a specified planet to make one complete rotation on its axis

   the Martian day

8. often capital a day designated for a special observance, esp a holiday

   Christmas Day

9. all in a day's work
   part of one's normal activity; no trouble
10. at the end of the day
    in the final reckoning
11. day of rest
    the Sabbath; Sunday
12. end one's days
    to pass the end of one's life
13. every dog has his day
    one's luck will come
14. in this day and age
    nowadays
15. it's early days
    it's too early to tell how things will turn out
16. late in the day
    1. very late (in a particular situation)
    2. too late
17. that will be the day
    1. I look forward to that
    2. that is most unlikely to happen
18. a time of success, recognition, power, etc

    his day will soon come

19. a struggle or issue at hand

    the day is lost

20. 1. the ground surface over a mine
    2. ( as modifier )

       the day level

21. from day to day
    without thinking of the future
22. call it a day
    to stop work or other activity
23. day after day
    without respite; relentlessly
24. day by day
    gradually or progressively; daily

    he weakened day by day

25. day in, day out
    every day and all day long
26. from Day 1 or from Day One
    from the very beginning
27. one of these days
    at some future time
28. modifier of, relating to, or occurring in the day

    the day shift

day

/ dā /

1. See under sidereal time

Other Words From

• half-day noun
• pre·day noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of day¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English dæg; cognate with German Tag

Word History and Origins

Origin of day¹

Old English dæg; related to Old High German tag, Old Norse dagr

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. call it a day, to stop one's activity for the day or for the present; quit temporarily:

   After rewriting the paper, she decided to call it a day.

2. day in, day out, every day without fail; regularly: Also day in and day out.

   They endured the noise and dirt of the city day in, day out.

3. day and night. night ( def 11 ).

More idioms and phrases containing day

• all in a day's work
• any day
• apple a day
• bad hair day
• break of day
• by the day
• call it a day
• carry the day
• different as night and day
• dog days
• every dog has its day
• field day
• for days on end
• forever and a day
• from this day forward
• good day
• had its day
• happy as the day is long
• heavenly days
• in all one's born days
• in the cold light of day
• in this day and age
• late in the day
• make a day of it
• make one's day
• name the day
• night and day
• not give someone the time of day
• not one's day
• one of these days
• order of the day
• pass the time (of day)
• plain as day
• rainy day
• red-letter day
• Rome wasn't built in a day
• salad days
• save the day
• seen better days
• see the light of day
• that'll be the day
• the other day
• time of day
• tomorrow is another day
• win through (the day)

Example Sentences

Adapting the book was “one of the most difficult challenges I’ve ever had as a writer,” said Zetumer, whose credits include “Patriots Day,” a dramatization of the 2013 Boston marathon bombings.

From Los Angeles Times

The accident occurred on New Year’s Day 2023 while he was clearing the driveway at his home in Nevada.

From Los Angeles Times

In the weeks before Election Day, he shared that he refused to do an on-site interview while Harris was campaigning.

From Salon

One dogecoin that was worth less than 16 cents before Election Day has more than doubled to around 41.5 cents today, The Associated Press reported.

From Salon

Two thrillers with literary antecedents — “Cross” on Prime Video and “The Day of the Jackal” on Peacock — premiere Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• period
• term
• time