A day is one of the seven twenty-four hour periods of time in a week.
2. variable noun
Day is the time when it is light, or the time when you are up and doing things.
The weather did not help; hot by day, cold at night.
27 million working days are lost each year due to work accidents and sickness.
He arranged for me to go down to London one day a week.
The snack bar is open during the day.
3. countable noun
You can refer to a particular period in history as a particular day or as particular days.
He began to talk about the Ukraine of his uncle's day.
Did you learn anything in your day, as a student?
...his early days of struggle and deep poverty.
She is doing just fine these days.
4.
See day after day
5.
See in this day and age
6.
See to have seen better days
7.
See to call it a day
8.
See to carry the day
9.
See has had its day
10.
See make sb's day
11.
See day and night
12.
See one day
13.
See the other day
14.
See to save the day
15.
See from day to day
16.
See to the day
17.
See to this day
18.
See to win the day
19.
See all in a day's work
20. your day in court
21. it's early days
22. at the end of the day
23. late in the day
24. to see the light of day
25. someone's days are numbered
26. the good old days
27. to pass the time of day
More Synonyms of day
-day
(-deɪ)
combining form
You use -day with a number to indicate how long something lasts.
The Sudanese leader has left for a two-day visit to Zambia.
day in British English
(deɪ)
noun
1. Also called: civil day
the period of time, the calendar day, of 24 hours' duration reckoned from one midnight to the next
2.
a.
the period of light between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from the night
b.
(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 revolutionon 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) longerthan 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
10. at the end of the day
11. back in the day
12. day of rest
13. end one's days
14. every dog has its day
15. in this day and age
16. it's early days
17. late in the day
18. that will be the day
19.
a time of success, recognition, power, etc
his day will soon come
20.
a struggle or issue at hand
the day is lost
21.
a.
the ground surface over a mine
b.
(as modifier)
the day level
22. from day to day
23. call it a day
24. day after day
25. day by day
26. day in, day out
27. from Day 1
28. one of these days
29. (modifier)
of, relating to, or occurring in the day
the day shift
▶ Related adjective: diurnal
Word origin
Old English dæg; related to Old High German tag, Old Norse dagr
Day in British English
(deɪ)
noun
1.
Doris, born Doris Kappelhoff. 1924–2019, US actress and singer; noted for her roles in musicals, romances, and comedies; her films include Calamity Jane (1953) and Pillow Talk (1959)
2.
Sir Robin. 1923–2000, British radio and television journalist, noted esp for his political interviews
day in American English
(deɪ)
noun
1.
a.
the period of light between sunrise and sunset
b.
daylight
c.
sunshine
2.
a.
the 24-hour period (mean solar day) that it takes the earth to rotate once on its axis with respect to the sun: the civil or legal day is from midnight to midnight, the astronomical day from noon to noon
see also sidereal day
b. Astronomy
the time that it takes any celestial body to revolve once on its axis
3. [oftenD-]
a particular or specified day
Memorial Day
4. [also pl.]
a period or time; era; age
the best writer of her day, in days of old
5.
a time of flourishing, power, glory, success, etc.
he has had his day
6.
the struggle or contest occurring on a certain day
they won the day
7.
the time one works each day
an eight-hour day
8.
an unspecified past or future time
one of these days
9. [pl.]
one's lifetime; life
to spend one's days in study
Idioms:
call it a day
day after day
day by day
day in, day out
from day to day
Word origin
ME dai < OE dæg (pl. dagas), akin to ON dagr, Goth dags, OHG tag < PGmc *dagwaz, prob. < IE base *ahes, day, with d- by assoc. with base *dhegwh-, to burn
More idioms containing
day
honest as the day is long
have a field day
every dog has its day
someone has had their day
seize the day
save for a rainy day
put off the evil day
make someone's day
make my day
late in the day
don't give up the day job
the day of reckoning
carry the day
call it a day
at the end of the day
clear as day
see the light of day
in the cold light of day
the order of the day
plain as day
a red letter day
Rome was not built in a day
tomorrow is another day
COBUILD Collocations
day
the next day
Examples of 'day' in a sentence
day
The next day you completed the purchase and collected the keys.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It comes just days after the warring parents finally settled their custody battle.
The Sun (2016)
We all vary but ten times a day is going it some.
The Sun (2016)
They were also asked about the same hour the day before.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They endorsed clean cycling from day one.
The Sun (2016)
They took off early the next day.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But cold days and hot tempers do not a winning side make.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He admits he had no intention of studying there but went along because it meant two days off school.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
England shaded the day and anything over 350 will represent a good return.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When I knew him, he spent the day devouring history books.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She eats a banana and energy bars during the day.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
No trend these days is complete without its own blog.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Would they change anything about their day?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Those changes in attitude meant this day could come.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In those days you could just have that.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What really makes your day is helping a dream come true for a close friend.
The Sun (2016)
They visit over a period of days those sites suggested by the most vigorous dances.
Evans, Peter & Deehan, Geoff The Descent of Mind - the how and why of intelligence (1990)
On they cycled as the sun climbed higher and the day grew hotter.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But how will they both feel in the cold light of day?
The Sun (2012)
We stay in a mountain lodge and spend the days racing from activity to activity.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This is a massive day for a fine football club.
The Sun (2010)
On days of history such as this it can be hard to tell.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
From five bars a day to just two.
Sally Gunnell, Kathryn Leigh BE YOUR BEST: How Anyone can become Fit, Healthy and Confident (2002)
It could take well through the day to complete.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Anything in those days would make me cry.
Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)
That meant two whole days of feasting and celebrations.
The Sun (2012)
In those days it just meant a bit of an oddball.
Shawn Levy READY, STEADY, GO!: Swinging London and the Invention of Cool (2002)
You repeat the exercises three times a day after meals for about 10 minutes.
Colette Harris, With Theresa Cheung PCOS DIET BOOK: How you can use the nutritional approach to deal with polycysticovary syndrome (2002)
This way, up to six hours a day might be taken with advantage.
Mumby, Keith The Allergy Handbook (1988)
The more she practised this, the easier it became until one day the phobia lifted.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They had to move three times a day, to keep out of the direct sunlight.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Word lists with
day
General vocabulary
In other languages
day
British English: day /deɪ/ NOUN
period of 24 hours A day is the length of time between one midnight and the next. There are twenty-four hours in a day, and seven days in a week.
It is three days until my son's birthday.
American English: day
Arabic: يَوْم
Brazilian Portuguese: dia
Chinese: 白天
Croatian: dan
Czech: den
Danish: dag
Dutch: dag etmaal
European Spanish: día
Finnish: päivä
French: jour
German: Tag
Greek: ημέρα
Italian: giorno
Japanese: 一日
Korean: 하루
Norwegian: dag
Polish: dzień
European Portuguese: dia
Romanian: zi
Russian: сутки
Latin American Spanish: día
Swedish: dag
Thai: วัน
Turkish: gün
Ukrainian: день
Vietnamese: ngày
British English: day /deɪ/ NOUN
daytimeDay is the time when there is light outside.
I've been busy all day.
American English: day
Arabic: نَهَار
Brazilian Portuguese: dia
Chinese: 白天
Croatian: dan
Czech: denčást dne, kdy je světlo
Danish: dag
Dutch: dag
European Spanish: día
Finnish: päivä
French: jourjour/nuit
German: Tag
Greek: ημέρα
Italian: giorno
Japanese: 日
Korean: 낮
Norwegian: dag
Polish: dzień
European Portuguese: dia
Romanian: zi
Russian: световой день
Latin American Spanish: día
Swedish: dag
Thai: กลางวัน
Turkish: gündüz
Ukrainian: денний час
Vietnamese: ban ngày
All related terms of 'day'
D-day
You can use D-day to refer to the day that is chosen for the beginning of an important activity.
g'day
a conventional expression of greeting or farewell used during the day
M-day
the day on which mobilization for war begins
V-Day
a day nominated to celebrate victory , as in V-E Day or V-J Day in World War II
on day
a day when someone performs well
all-day
available throughout the day
day bed
a narrow bed , with a head piece and sometimes a foot piece and back, on which to recline during the day
day boy
a boy who attends a boarding school daily , but returns home each evening
Day-Glo
Day-Glo colours are shades of orange , pink , green , and yellow which are so bright that they seem to glow .
day job
the job that a person during the day to earn a living, as opposed to some more glamorous activity such as being a singer , dancer, actor , writer that they aspire to make their main source of income
day off
A day off is a day when you do not go to work, even though it is usually a working day.
day-old
having been in existence or alive for one day
day one
If something happens from day one of a process, it happens right from the beginning. If it happens on day one , it happens right at the beginning.
day spa
A health spa is a kind of hotel where people go to do exercise and have special treatments in order to improve their health.
lay day
any of the days allowed for loading or unloading a ship without payment of extra charge
man-day
a day regarded as the number of hours work one person can complete in a day
May Day
May Day is the 1st of May, which in many countries is celebrated as a public holiday, especially as one in honour of working people.
off day
If someone has an off day , they do not perform as well as usual.
one-day
One day or some day or one of these days means at some time in the future .
pay day
Pay day is the day of the week or month on which you receive your wages or salary .
per day
relating to an allowance for daily expenses , usually those incurred while working
pet day
a single fine day during a period of bad weather
tag day
a day on which money is publicly solicited as for some charity , each contributor being given a tag
Anzac Day
25 April , a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand commemorating the Anzac landing at Gallipoli in 1915
Arbor Day
a tree-planting day observed individually by the states of the U.S., usually in spring
civil day
the period of time, the calendar day , of 24 hours ' duration reckoned from one midnight to the next
day care
Day care is care that is provided during the day for people who cannot look after themselves, such as small children , old people, or people who are ill . Day care is provided by paid workers .
day case
a patient or case that comes into hospital for a surgical procedure and is dealt with and released in the course of one day
day-clean
the time after first dawn when the sun begins to shine ; clear daybreak
day girl
a girl who attends a boarding school daily , but returns home each evening
Day-Lewis
C ( ecil ). 1904–72, British poet , critic , and (under the pen name Nicholas Blake ) author of detective stories ; poet laureate (1968–72)
day lily
any widely cultivated Eurasian liliaceous plant of the genus Hemerocallis , having large yellow, orange , or red lily-like flowers, which typically last for only one day and are immediately succeeded by others
day name
a name indicating a person's day of birth
day nurse
a nurse who is on duty during the daytime
day pass
a ticket that, once bought , enables you to use, travel on or access something free for one day
day pupil
a pupil at a boarding school who attends lessons during the day but does not sleep at the school
day room
A day room is a room in a hospital where patients can sit and relax during the day.
day shift
a group of workers who work a shift during the daytime in an industry or occupation where a night shift or a back shift is also worked
day trip
A day trip is a journey to a place and back again on the same day, usually for pleasure .
duvet day
a day of leave from work that an employee is allowed to take at short notice
Earth Day
April 22, a day on which environmentalist concerns are variously acknowledged
Ember day
any of the days in the quarterly three-day period of prayer and fasting (the Wednesday , Friday , and Saturday after the first Sunday in Lent , after Whitsunday, after Sept . 14, and after Dec. 13) observed in the Roman Catholic Church and other Western churches
fast day
a religious holy day, etc. observed by fasting
feast day
→ feast (sense 1 )
field day
a day spent in some special outdoor activity, such as nature study or sport
First day
Sunday
flag day
In Britain , a flag day is a day on which people collect money for a charity from people in the street . People are given a small sticker to wear to show that they have given money.
gala day
a day of sports, entertainment , etc, often organized in order to raise money for a charity , cause, school, etc
good day
People sometimes say ' Good day ' instead of 'Hello' or 'Goodbye'.
half-day
A half-day is a day when you work only in the morning or in the afternoon, but not all day.
Chinese translation of 'day'
day
(deɪ)
n
(c) (= period of 24 hours) 天 (tiān)
⇒ three days ago3天前 (sān tiān qián)
(c/u) (= daylight hours) 白天 (báitiān) (个(個), gè)
(c/u) (= working day) 工作日 (gōngzuòrì) (个(個), gè)
⇒ The office is only open during the day.办公室只在工作日开放。 (Bàngōngshì zhǐ zài gōngzuòrì kāifàng.)
(c) (= heyday) 时(時)代 (shídài)
⇒ The days of the silent film are long gone.无声电影的时代早已过去。 (Wúshēng diànyǐng de shídài zǎo yǐ guòqù.)
during the day在白天 (zài báitiān)
the day before/after前/后(後)一天 (qián/hòu yī tiān)
the day after tomorrow后(後)天 (hòutiān)
the day before yesterday前天 (qiántiān)
these days (= nowadays) 现(現)在 (xiànzài)
day in, day out日复(復)一日 (rì fù yī rì)
to the day一天也不差 (yī tiān yě bù chà)
the following day第二天 (dì'èr tiān)
the day that I ... 我 ... 的那一天 (wǒ ... de nà yī tiān)
day by day/from day to day一天天地 (yī tiāntiān de)
one day a week每周(週)一天 (měi zhōu yī tiān)
one day/some day/one of these days有一天 (yǒu yī tiān)
the other day在不久前某天 (zài bùjiǔ qián mǒutiān)
by day在白天 (zài báitiān)
all day (long)一天到晚 (yītiān dàowǎn)
day and night日日夜夜地 (rìrì yèyè de)
to work an 8 hour day每天工作8小时(時) (měi tiān gōngzuò bā xiǎoshí)