duration

[ doo-rey-shuhn, dyoo- ]

noun

1. the length of time something continues or exists (often used with the ).
2. continuance in time.
3. (in the philosophy of Bergson) a temporal continuum, intuitively known, within which the élan vital operates.

duration

/ djʊˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the length of time that something lasts or continues

Derived Forms

• duˈrational, adjective

Other Words From

• du·ration·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of duration¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin dūrātiōn-, stem of dūrātiō, from Latin dūrāt(us) “lasted” (past participle of dūrāre “to last”; dure ² ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of duration¹

C14: from Medieval Latin dūrātiō, from Latin dūrāre to last

Example Sentences

Chelsea's Palmer played the duration of the match, despite being a doubt before kick-off.

From BBC

The stock has been highly volatile for the duration of its existence, rallying and cratering in close connection with Trump’s personal and political fortunes.

From Salon

Rahmani added that the case can't reasonably be paused for the duration of Trump's presidency because he, like any other criminal defendant, has a right to a speedy trial.

From Salon

Human beings are notoriously bad at what’s known as affective forecasting, or accurately predicting the intensity and duration of our emotional experiences in the future.

From Los Angeles Times

Gascón, having done away with her heels for the duration of our chat, spells it out more colorfully: “When I first read the script, I thought it would never get made. Because it was so special. So weird. So different. I just never thought we’d be able to make it. I thought it was a kind of dream. But I said that if we were to make it, it’d be like ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ or something like that.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• continuation
• extent
• period
• span