day
a period of 24 hours, especially from twelve o'clock one night to twelve o'clock the next night
He runs five miles every day.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
day
noun (plural days)
1 a time of 24 hours from midnight to the next midnight:
There are seven days in a week.
I went to Italy for a few days.
'What day is it today?' 'Tuesday.'
word building
The days of the week are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
2 the time when it is light outside:
Most people work during the day and sleep at night.
3 a time in the past:
In my grandparents' day, not many people had cars.
one day
1 on a certain day in the past:
One day, a letter arrived.
speaking
We often use one day at the beginning of a story.
2 (also some day) at some time in the future:
I hope to become a doctor one day.
Some day I'll be rich and famous.
the day after tomorrow not tomorrow, but the next day
the day before yesterday not yesterday, but the day before
the other day a few days ago:
I went to London the other day.
these days (informal) used to talk about the present, especially when you are comparing it with the past:
These days kids grow up so quickly.
same meaning nowadays
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
day
day S1 W1 /deɪ/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑day, ↑midday; adverb: ↑daily; adjective: ↑daily]
[Language: Old English; Origin: dæg]
1. 24 HOURS [countable] a period of 24 hours:
We spent three days in Paris.
‘What day is it today?’ ‘Friday.’
He left two days ago.
I’ll call you in a couple of days.
on a ... day
We’ll have to hold the party on a different day.
(on) that/the following/the previous day (=during a particular day)
What really happened on that day so long ago?
Over 10,000 soldiers died on that one day in January.
The following day, a letter arrived.
I saw Jane the day before yesterday.
We’re leaving for New York the day after tomorrow.
I got an email from Sue the other day (=a few days ago).
Women generally use up about 2,000 calories a day (=each day).
2. NOT NIGHT [uncountable and countable] the period of time between when it gets light in the morning and when it gets dark OPP night:
She only leaves her house during the day.
It was a cold blustery day.
Kept in that dark cell, I could no longer tell whether it was day or night.
on a ... day
She first met Steve on a cold but sunny day in March.
by day (=during the day)
Owls usually sleep by day and hunt by night.
The day dawned (=started) bright and clear.
3. WHEN YOU ARE AWAKE [countable usually singular] the time during the day when you are awake and active:
His day begins at six.
Jackie starts the day with a few gentle exercises.
Sometimes I feel I just can’t face another day.
It’s been a long day (=used when you have been awake and busy for a long time).
all day (long) (=during the whole time you are awake)
I’ve been studying all day. I’m beat!
► Do not say ‘all the day’. Say all day.
4. TIME AT WORK [countable] the time you spend doing your job during a 24-hour period:
I work a ten-hour day.
Rail workers are campaigning for a shorter working day.
I’ve got a day off (=a day when I do not have to go to work) tomorrow.
5. PAST [countable] used to talk about a time in the past:
I knew him pretty well from his days as a DJ in the Bounty Club (=from when he was a DJ).
I always used to do the cooking in the early days of our marriage.
Not much was known about the dangers of smoking in those days (=then).
They were very much opposed to the government of the day (=that existed then).
One day (=on a day in the past), a mysterious stranger called at the house.
From day one (=from the beginning), I knew I wouldn’t get on with him.
In my day (=in the past, when I was young), kids used to have some respect for their elders.
in sb’s student/army/childhood etc days (=in the past when someone was a student etc)
I used to run six miles a day in my army days.
those were the days spoken (=used to talk about a time in the past you think was better than now)
We used to stay in bed all morning and party all night. Those were the days!
6. NOW [countable] used to talk about the situation that exists now:
I don’t do much exercise these days (=now).
It’s incredible that such attitudes still exist in this day and age (=used to express disapproval that something still exists now).
To this day (=until and including now), he denies any involvement in the crime.
up to/until/to the present day (=until and including now)
This tradition has continued right up until the present day.
7. FUTURE [countable] used to talk about a time in the future
one day/some day (=some time in the future)
I’d like to go and visit the States one day.
Some day we might get him to see sense.
One of these days (=some time soon) I’m going to walk right out of here and never come back.
Kelly’s expecting the baby any day now (=very soon).
The day will come (=the time will come) when he won’t be able to care for himself any more.
8. sb’s/sth’s day a successful period of time in someone’s life or in something’s existence:
My uncle was a famous radio personality in his day (=at the time he was most successful).
Don’t be too disappointed you didn’t win – your day will come (=you will be successful in the future).
Game shows like that have had their day (=were successful in the past, but are not any more).
9. Independence/election/Christmas etc day a day on which a particular event or celebration takes place:
Rioting broke out just three days before polling day.
10. five/three/nine etc years to the day exactly five years etc:
It’s two years to the day since he died.
11. sb’s days someone’s life:
She ended her days in poverty.
12. sb’s/sth’s days are numbered used to say that someone or something will not exist for much longer:
It seems that the hospital’s days are numbered.
13. day after day (also day in day out) continuously for a long time in a way that is annoying or boring:
I couldn’t stand sitting at a desk day after day.
14. from day to day (also from one day to the next) if a situation changes from day to day or from one day to the next, it changes often:
I never know from day to day what I’m going to be doing.
His moods swung wildly from one day to the next. ⇨ ↑day-to-day, ⇨ live from day to day at ↑live1(5)
15. day by day slowly and gradually:
Her health was improving day by day.
16. night and day (also day and night) all the time SYN continuously:
Being together night and day can put a great pressure on any relationship.
17. day out especially British English a trip you make for pleasure on a particular day:
A visit to the caves makes a fascinating and exciting day out for all the family.
18. have an off day to be less successful or happy than usual, for no particular reason:
Even the greatest athletes have their off days.
19. make sb’s day to make someone very happy:
Hearing her voice on the phone really made my day.
20. soup/dish/fish etc of the day a soup, meal etc that a restaurant serves on a particular day in addition to the meals they always offer
21. be all in a day’s work if something difficult, unpleasant, or unusual is all in a day’s work for someone, it is a normal part of their job
22. take each day as it comes (also take it one day at a time) to deal with something as it happens and not worry about the future:
Since I had the accident, I’ve learned to take each day as it comes.
23. the day of reckoning a time when you have to deal with the bad results of something you did in the past
• • •
SPOKEN PHRASES
24. it’s (just) one of those days used to say that everything seems to be going wrong
25. it’s not sb’s day used when several unpleasant things have happened to someone in one day:
It wasn’t Chris’s day – he overslept and then his car broke down.
26. make a day of it British English to spend all day doing something for pleasure:
If the weather’s nice, we’ll make a day of it and take a picnic.
27. make my day used when warning someone that if they try to do something, you will enjoy stopping, defeating, or punishing them etc. This phrase was made popular by Clint Eastwood in the film ‘Dirty Harry’.
28. that’ll be the day used to say that you think something is very unlikely to happen:
‘Bill says he’s going to start going to the gym.’ ‘That’ll be the day!’
29. I/we don’t have all day used to say that you want someone to do something faster because you do not have enough time to wait for them to finish:
Hurry up! I haven’t got all day!
30. it’s not every day (that) used to say that something does not happen often and is therefore very special:
Let’s go out and celebrate. After all, it’s not every day you get a new job.
31. back in the day a long time ago, when you were much younger
32. be on days to work during the day at a job you sometimes have to do at night:
I’m on days this week.
33. 40/50/60 etc if he’s/she’s a day used to emphasize that someone is at least as old as you are saying:
She’s ninety if she’s a day.
⇨ at the end of the day at ↑end1(12), ⇨ call it a day at ↑call1(10), ⇨ carry the day at ↑carry1(22), ⇨ the early days at ↑early1(1), ⇨ every dog (has) its day at ↑dog1(11), ⇨ the good old days at ↑old(8), ⇨ ↑half day, ⇨ have a field day at ↑field day(1), ⇨ it’s early days at ↑early1(3), ⇨ it’s (a little) late in the day at ↑late1(8), ⇨ it’s sb’s lucky day at ↑lucky(5), ⇨ (live to) see the day at ↑see1(23), ⇨ name the day at ↑name2(6), ⇨ ↑open day, ⇨ save the day at ↑save1(12), ⇨ ↑speech day, ↑sports day
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + day
▪ every/each day The museum is open to visitors every day.
▪ the same day Similar student protests took place on the same day in other towns.
▪ the next/the following day (=the day after something happened in the past) The story was in the newspaper the following day.
▪ the previous day (=the day before something happened in the past) I had been to the doctor the previous day.
▪ a big day (=a day when something important is arranged to take place) Just before the big day the team was training 6 days a week.
▪ a holy day Friday is the Muslim holy day.
▪ a historic day (=a day when an event that is historically important happens) This was a historic day for the space program.
▪ a school day (=a day when children go to school) It’s a school day tomorrow, so you need an early night.
▪ election/market etc day (=the day when an election, market etc takes place) Wednesday is market day in Oxford.
▪ Christmas/Easter/Independence etc Day What day of the week is Christmas Day this year?
▪ sb’s wedding day (=the day when someone gets married) She wanted everything to be perfect for her wedding day.
■ phrases
▪ the day before yesterday We arrived in France the day before yesterday.
▪ the day after tomorrow How about meeting for lunch the day after tomorrow?
▪ the other day (=a few days ago) Mark called the other day.
▪ 24 hours a day (=during the whole day and night) In Cairo, the streets are busy 24 hours a day.
▪ $15/5 grams/50 etc per day (=used when saying how much someone earns or is paid each day) They get about £45 per day.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ adjectives
▪ a good day (=in which things have happened in the way you want) Have you had a good day at work?
▪ a bad day (=in which things have happened in a way you do not want) I’ve had a really bad day !
▪ a nice/lovely/happy day (=enjoyable) We’ve had a lovely day at the beach.
▪ a beautiful/lovely/glorious day (=with very nice weather) It was a beautiful day yesterday, wasn’t it?
▪ a hard day (=difficult and tiring) Sit down – you look as though you’ve had a hard day.
▪ a long day I got up at 5 this morning so it’s been a long day.
■ verbs
▪ have a good/bad/long etc day Simon looked as if he’d had a bad day at the office.
▪ spend the day doing something I spent the day shopping with my friends.
▪ start the day (=do something at the beginning of a day) You should start the day with a good breakfast.
▪ end the day (=do something at the end of a day) We ended the day at a little restaurant by the beach.
■ phrases
▪ have a nice/good day! spoken (=used when saying goodbye to someone in a friendly way) Bye Sam! Have a good day!
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
day
day [day days] [deɪ] [deɪ] noun
1. countable a period of 24 hours
• I saw Tom three days ago.
• ‘What day is it today?’ ‘Monday.’
• We're going away in a few days/in a few days' time.
• They left the day before yesterday (= two days ago).
• We're meeting the day after tomorrow (= in two days).
• New Year's Day
• Take the medicine three times a day.
• We can't go there today. You can go another day.
see also field day, off day, red-letter day, sports day
2. uncountable the time between when it becomes light in the morning and when it becomes dark in the evening
• The sun was shining all day.
• I could sit and watch the river all day long.
• He works at night and sleeps during the day.
• Nocturnal animals sleep by day and hunt by night.
3. countable, usually singular the hours of the day when you are awake, working, etc
• a seven-hour working day
• It's been a long day (= I've been very busy).
• Did you have a good day?
• She didn't do a full day's work.
• I took a half day off yesterday.
• (NAmE) Have a nice day!
see also workday
4. countable, usually plural a particular period of time or history
• in Queen Victoria's day
• the early days of computers
• Most women stayed at home in those days.
• (informal) in the old days (= in the past)
see also glory days, heyday, nowadays, present day There are many other compounds ending in day. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
more at back in the day at back adv., back in the days at back adv., in all my born days at born, break of day/dawn at break n., call it a day at call v., (as) clear as day at clear adj., in the cold light of day at cold adj., your good deed for the day at deed, every dog has his/its day at dog n., it's early days (yet) at early adj., at the end of the day at end n., end your days/life at end v., the evil hour/day/moment at evil, from that day/time forth at forth, give me sth/sb (any day/time) at give v., late in the day at late adv., live to fight another day at live1, the livelong day at livelong, have a nice day! at nice, a nine days' wonder at nine, night and dayday and night at night, the good/bad old days at old, the order of the day at order n., the other day/morning/evening/week at other adj., pass the time of day at pass v., (as) plain as day at plain adj., save, keep, etc. sth for a rainy day at rainy, Rome wasn't built in a day at Rome, your salad days at salad, save the day/situation at save v., not give sb the time of day at time n.
Idioms: all in a day's work ▪ any day ▪ day after day ▪ day by day ▪ day in, day out ▪ day of reckoning ▪ from day one ▪ from day to day ▪ from one day to the next ▪ have had your day ▪ have seen better days ▪ if he's/she's a day ▪ in somebody's day ▪ in this day and age ▪ it's not somebody's day ▪ make a day of it ▪ make somebody's day ▪ not have all day ▪ of somebody's day ▪ of the day ▪ one day ▪ one of these days ▪ one of those days ▪ some day ▪ somebody's days are numbered ▪ take it one day at a time ▪ that'll be the day ▪ the day ▪ these days ▪ this day ▪ those were the days ▪ win the day
Word Origin:
Old English dæg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dag and German Tag.
Thesaurus:
day noun U, C
1.
• Owls sleep by day and hunt by night.
daytime • • morning • • afternoon •
Opp: night, Opp: night-time
in/during the day/daytime/morning/afternoon
all/every/each day/morning/afternoon
spend the day/morning/afternoon doing sth
Day or daytime? Day can either mean a particular completed period, or a period of time that is continuing; daytime never refers to a particular completed period:
• during the day/daytime
• Did you have a good day?
¤ Did you have a good daytime? Daytime is used especially in compounds:
• daytime television/temperatures
¤ a day televsion/temperatures
2. C, usually pl.
• a history of Europe from 1492 to the present day
period • • time • • age • • century • • era • |formal epoch •
in/during … day(s)/a period/the time of…/…times/the… century/the age of…/an era/an epoch
(the) present day/period/time/century/era/epoch
(the) medieval/Victorian/post-war, etc. days/period/time/era
Which word? Era, age and epoch are used more often to mean a period in history. Day and time are often used, especially in the plural, to talk about the present
• these days
• modern times
When day or time means a period in history, it is often used after a person's name
• The battle happened in King Alfred's day.
Example Bank:
• As day dawned I found her already hard at work.
• Be sure to start the day with a good breakfast.
• Gone are the days when you could do a week's shopping and still have change from £20.
• Gone are the days when you could smoke in restaurants.
• He thought of her less as the days passed.
• He's getting stronger by the day.
• How did your day go?
• I am entitled to ten paid sick days a year.
• I do a 9-hour day
• I hope we meet again some day.
• I knew I had a full day's driving ahead of me.
• I never thought I would see the day when free elections would be held in this country.
• I was in your area the other day.
• It happened on the very day that Kemp was murdered.
• It was the day of the big game.
• It's been one of the worst days of my life.
• It's been one of those days when everything's gone wrong.
• Kids grow up so quickly these days.
• Memories of happy days on the hills never fade.
• Morale was sinking day by day.
• Much has changed since the days of my youth.
• On a bad day chaos reigns and nobody can predict when a plane will leave.
• On the day of his wedding he was very nervous.
• Some players go into management once their playing days are over.
• That was in the bad old days of rampant inflation.
• The letter arrived the very next day.
• The restaurant is closed all day Saturday.
• The tabloid press had a field day with the latest government scandal.
• They stayed for ten days.
• Things were very different in my grandfather's day.
• We hope to finish the job in a few days.
• We preferred to travel at night and rest by day.
• We spent the day gardening.
• We went to the beach for the day.
• We're open every day except Sunday.
• When that day comes, I plan to be far away.
• a fine summer's day
• a hard day at the office
• a study of European drama, from Ibsen to the present day
• in his younger days
• in the early days of television
• the dark days of recession
• the government of the day
• the heady days of the ‘swinging sixties’
• the pattern of the school day
• those killed in the hail of bullets fired on that fateful day
• Ah, those were the days!
• Dickens gives us a vivid picture of poverty in Queen Victoria's day.
• He works at night and sleeps during the day.
• I could sit and watch the river all day long.
• I took half a day off yesterday.
• It's been a long day.
• Most women stayed at home in those days.
• She didn't do a full day's work.
• Slavery continues to exist, even in this day and age.
• The short winter days prevented them from finishing all the work.
• The sun was shining all day.
• There were no supermarkets in the old days when I was a boy.
• What a beautiful day!
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
day / deɪ / noun [ C ]
A1 a period of 24 hours, especially from twelve o'clock one night to twelve o'clock the next night:
January has 31 days.
the days of the week
He runs five miles every day.
It took us almost a day to get here.
I saw him the day before yesterday .
We leave the day after tomorrow .
He was last seen alive five days ago .
They haven't been seen for days (= for several days) .
I'll be seeing Pat in a few days/ in a few days' time .
How's your day been? (= Have you enjoyed today?)
Have a nice day!
I must get some sleep - I've got a big day (= an important day) tomorrow.
A2 used to refer to the period in 24 hours when it is naturally light:
a bright sunny day
It's rained all day today.
These animals sleep during the day and hunt at night.
A2 the time that you usually spend at work or at school:
a normal working day
I work a seven-hour day.
We're having to work a six-day week to cope with demand.
day off a day when you do not have to work, or do something that you normally do:
I won't be in on Thursday; it's my day off.
She's taking three days off next week.
the other day B1 a few days ago:
Didn't I see you in the post office the other day?
these days A2 used to talk about the present time, in comparison with the past:
Vegetarianism is very popular these days.
in those days B2 in the past:
In those days people used to write a lot more letters.
any day now B2 very soon, especially within the next few days:
The baby's due any day now.
by day when it is naturally light:
I prefer travelling by day.
day after day B1 repeatedly, every day:
The same problems keep coming up day after day.
day and night all the time:
You can hear the traffic from your room day and night.
day by day B2 every day, or more and more as each day passes:
Day by day he became weaker.
(from) day to day If something changes (from) day to day, it changes often:
The symptoms of the disease change from day to day.
the days C1 a period in history:
How did people communicate in the days before email?
to this day up to and including the present moment:
To this day nobody knows what happened to him.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
day
[de͟ɪ]
♦
days
1) N-COUNT A day is one of the seven twenty-four hour periods of time in a week.
2) N-VAR 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.
Ant:
night
3) N-COUNT: with supp 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) PHRASE If something happens day after day, it happens every day without stopping.
The newspaper job had me doing the same thing day after day.
5) PHRASE In this day and age means in modern times.
Even in this day and age the old attitudes persist.
6) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that something has seen better days, you mean that it is old and in poor condition.
The tweed jacket she wore had seen better days.
7) PHRASE: V inflects If you call it a day, you decide to stop what you are doing because you are tired of it or because it is not successful.
Faced with mounting debts, the decision to call it a day was inevitable...
I want the manager's job when he calls it a day.
8) PHRASE: V inflects If someone carries the day, they are the winner in a contest such as a battle, debate, or sporting competition. [JOURNALISM]
For the time being, those in favour of the liberalisation measures seem to have carried the day.
9) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that something has had its day, you mean that the period during which it was most successful or popular has now passed.
Beat music may finally have had its day...
Interior decoration by careful co-ordination seems to have had its day.
10) PHRASE: V inflects If something makes your day, it makes you feel very happy. [INFORMAL]
Come on, Bill. Send Tom a card and make his day...
It was a joy to see. It really made my day.
11) PHRASE If something happens day and night or night and day, it happens all the time without stopping.
Chantal kept a fire burning night and day...
He would have a nurse in constant attendance day and night.
12) PHRASE: PHR with cl One day or some day or one of these days means at some time in the future.
I too dreamed of living in London one day...
I hope some day you will find the woman who will make you happy...
One of these days we will get lucky.
13) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something happened the other day, you mean that it happened a few days ago.
I phoned your office the other day...
We had lunch the other day at our favorite restaurant.
Syn:
a few days ago
14) PHRASE: V inflects If someone or something saves the day in a situation which seems likely to fail, they manage to make it successful.
...this story about how he saved the day at his daughter's birthday party...
A last moment election can save the day.
15) PHRASE If something happens from day to day or day by day, it happens each day.
Your needs can differ from day to day...
I live for the moment, day by day, not for the past.
16) PHRASE: amount PHR If it is a month or a year to the day since a particular thing happened, it is exactly a month or a year since it happened.
It was January 19, a year to the day since he had arrived in Singapore...
Twenty-five years ago, to the day, England reached the sport's pinnacle by winning the World Cup.
17) PHRASE: PHR with cl To this day means up until and including the present time.
To this day young Zulu boys practise fighting.
18) PHRASE: V inflects If a particular person, group, or thing wins the day, they win a battle, struggle, or competition. If they lose the day, they are defeated. [mainly JOURNALISM]
His determination, his refusal to back down, and possibly his sincerity had won the day...
Few in Westminster doubt that the government will win the day.
19) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, oft PHR for n If you say that a task is all in a day's work for someone, you mean that they do not mind doing it although it may be difficult, because it is part of their job or because they often do it.
For war reporters, dodging snipers' bullets is all in a day's work...
I said: `How can I ever thank you?' but he waved the question aside. `It's all in a day's work.'
20) have your day in court → see court
it's early days yet → see early
at the end of the day → see end
late in the day → see late
see the light of day → see light
someone's days are numbered → see number
the good old days → see old
pass the time of day → see time
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
day
day /ˈdeɪ/ noun, pl days
1 [count] : a period of 24 hours beginning at midnight : one of the seven time periods that make up a week
• We're open seven days a week, 365 days a year.
• Payment is due on the first day of every month.
• “What day is (it) today?” “Tuesday.”
• “What day [=date] is Friday?” “It's the 28th.”
• “What day of the week is the 28th?” “It's a Friday.”
• He spent five days in the hospital.
• She left on Thursday and came back four days later.
• The baby is due (to be born) in three days.
• That was the happiest day of my life.
• Parenthood gets better every day.
• We'll be finished in a day or two. = We'll be finished in a couple of days.
• It rained for a day and a half. [=it rained for about 36 hours]
• The office is closed for the day.
• I call him every (single) day.
• Tomorrow is another day. [=there will be more opportunities to do things tomorrow]
• a day of celebration/mourning [=a day for people to celebrate/mourn]
• Take one pill two times a day. [=each day]
• She works eight hours a day.
• It costs 10 dollars a day to park there.
• The party is the day after tomorrow. = The party is in two days.
• It happened the day before yesterday. = It happened two days ago.
• Sometimes they didn't speak to each other for days on end. [=several days]
• From that day forth/forward [=(less formally) from then on], I was determined to do better.
✦If you do not look a day over a particular age, you appear to be that age.
• “Today's my 50th birthday.” “Really? I'm surprised. You don't look a day over 40.” [=you don't look any older than 40 years old]
✦If you say that someone is a particular age if he/she is a day, you mean that the person is that age or older.
• The man she's dating is 60 if he's a day. [=he is at least sixty years old]
2 : the time of light between one night and the next : the part of the day when light from the sun can be seen
[count]
• What a beautiful summer day!
• a cold/wet/rainy day
• The shortest day of the year is usually December 22, and June 22 is usually the longest.
[noncount]
• He sleeps during the day [=daytime] and works at night.
• You can call me any time, day or night.
• These animals are mostly active during the day.
• I work during the day. [=I work days]
• She's a student by day [=during the day] and a waitress by night.
• I woke at (the) break of day. [=(more commonly) dawn, daybreak, sunrise]
• day workers [=people who work during the day]
- opposite night
3 : the part of the day when people are usually most active and when most businesses are open
[singular]
• I like to start my day with a cup of coffee. [=I like to drink a cup of coffee as soon as I wake up]
• We decided to rent a car for the day.
• How was your day?
• By the end of the day, we were all exhausted.
• Our neighbors play their loud music at all hours of the day. [=throughout the day]
• Let's go to bed. We have an early day [=we will get out of bed early] tomorrow.
• I needed to relax after a long day at work/school. [=after working/being at school for a long time]
• “Thank you, ma'am. Have a nice day!”
[noncount]
• I'll be gone all day.
• It rained all day long.
✦People sometimes say that they can't wait all day or don't have all day when they are in a hurry and need someone to move or act more quickly. These phrases are usually used in a rude way.
• Hurry up! I can't wait all day! = I don't have all day. = I haven't got all day.
4 [count] : the hours during a day when a person works or goes to school or when a company does business
• I put in four twelve-hour days [=workdays] this week.
• She makes about 50 dollars a/per day.
• He was late for his first day on the job.
• They collected a full day's pay for half a day's work.
• We had a busy couple of days at the store.
• We have a short day tomorrow. [=we have to work fewer hours tomorrow than usual]
• The school committee is pushing for a longer school day.
• Tomorrow's our last day of school (for the school year).
• Please allow 14 business days [=days when most businesses are open; weekdays that are not holidays] for delivery.
✦If something is all in a day's work for someone, it is part of a person's typical work.
• Solving violent crimes is all in a day's work for these police detectives.
✦To take a/the day off is to decide not to work on a particular day.
• He took the day off to go fishing.
5 [count] : the day on which something specified happens or is expected to happen
• It rained on their wedding day.
• the day of his birth
• This Sunday is family day [=a day for families especially with young children] at the amusement park.
• If you've been waiting for the perfect skiing conditions, today's the day. [=the conditions are perfect today]
• So, when's the big day? When are you getting married?
• Did you ever think you'd see the day when he would apologize? [=did you believe he would ever apologize?]
• I never thought I would live to see the day when you would graduate from college. [=I did not think I would live long enough to see you graduate]
• Let her have her day in court [=let her defend herself in a court of law] before you pass judgment on her.
• This is your lucky day. [=a day when something good happens to you]
✦If a day is your day, something good will happen to you on that day.
• You never know. Maybe today will be my day. [=maybe I will succeed, win, etc., today]
• I'm sorry you lost. I guess it just wasn't your day.
✦People sometimes use the phrase that'll be the day to say that they think something will not happen.
• “Do you think he'll ever admit he made a mistake?” “That'll be the day!”
6 [count] : a particular period of time
• She was the most talented actress of her day. [=during the time when she lived and worked as an actress]
• In my day [=when I was young], boys asked girls out on dates, not the other way around.
• Life was simpler in my grandmother's day, but it wasn't easier.
• We sell books dating from 1875 to the present day. [=today]
- often plural
• He often spoke about his days as a soldier.
• I was quite an athlete in my younger days. [=when I was young]
• The practice dates back to the days of ancient Rome.
• the olden days
• my college days [=when I was in college]
• the days of stagecoaches [=when stagecoaches were used]
• In those days many factory workers were children.
✦The saying those were the days is sometimes used to say that a period of time in the past was pleasant and often better than the present time.
• When I was a kid, we spent our summers at the beach. Those were the days!
• In the 1960s, everything seemed possible. Those were the good old days.
(all) the livelong day
- see livelong
any day now : within the next few days : soon
• We're expecting a phone call from him any day now. [=in the near future]
• Any day now, the decision could be made.
at the end of the day
- see 1end
call it a day
- see 1call
carry/win the day : to win or be successful
• The “no” vote carried the day. [=prevailed]
• We believe that truth and justice will carry/win the day.
day after day : for several days without stopping or changing
• She wore the same pants day after day.
• Day after day, we hear the same complaints from our customers.
day and night or night and day
1 : all the time : without stopping
• We've been working on it day and night. = We've been working on it night and day.
2 : complete or total
• The difference between them is day and night. = The difference between them is night and day. [=they are completely different]
day by day : in small amounts every day
• Day by day, the situation is becoming more complex.
• She felt herself growing stronger day by day. [=every day]
✦If you take it/things day by day, you make progress in a slow and careful way by dealing with each day as it comes.
• He hopes to make a full recovery after his surgery, but right now he's just taking it day by day. [=taking it one day at a time, taking each day as it comes]
• I don't know if our relationship is going to work out. I'm taking things day by day at this point.
day in, day out or day in and day out : every day for many days : for a long time without stopping or changing
• She does the same thing at her job day in, day out.
• It can be difficult to spend all of your time with one person day in and day out.
days are numbered
- see 2number
early days (yet)
- see 2early
every dog has its day
- see 1dog
for a rainy day
- see rainy
from day to day : every day
• His opinions seem to change from day to day. [=from one day to the next]
- see also day-to-day
from one day to the next : every day
• She changes her mind from one day to the next. [=from day to day] : as one day becomes another day
• You never know from one day to the next what's going to happen to you.
give (someone) the time of day chiefly US informal : to pay attention to someone - usually used in negative statements
• No one would give us the time of day.
• I needed their help, but they wouldn't give me the time of day.
glory days
- see 1glory
have seen/known better days
- see 1better
in all your born days
- see born
in the cold light of day
- see 1cold
in this day and age : at the present time in history
• Computers are essential to getting work done in this day and age. [=nowadays]
• It's unbelievable that in this day and age people are still dying from hunger.
it is not every day
- used to say that something happens very rarely
• It's not every day that I get to meet the President.
• Go ahead and spend the extra money. It's not every day that you get married.
late in the day
- see 1late
make someone's day : to cause someone's day to be pleasant or happy
• Thanks for the compliment. You've really made my day!
• It made my day to see his smiling face.
of the day
1 : served in a restaurant as a special item on a particular day
• What's the fish/vegetable of the day?
• Our soup of the day [=du jour] is vegetable beef.
2 : of a particular period of time
• What were some of the popular movies of the day? [=that were popular during that time]
• the important issues of the day
one day
1 : at some time in the future
• One day, it'll happen. You'll see.
• People may one day [=someday] be able to take vacations to the moon.
2 : on a day in the past
• I went to her house one day and had lunch with her.
• One day, we had a terrible argument.
on the day Brit : on the day that an event happens
• I know we seem a bit disorganized now, but we'll be all right on the day.
• Whether we win or not depends on which players are healthy on the day.
save the day
- see 1save
see the light of day
- see 1light
some day : at some time in the future : someday
• Some day I may be rich enough to own two houses.
• I'd like to return there some day.
take each day as it comes or take one day at a time or take it/things one day at a time : to deal with each day's problems as they come instead of worrying about the future
• There's no way to know what the future will bring, so just take each day as it comes and hope for the best.
• Take one day at a time and don't expect things to change overnight.
• It's important to take things one day at a time so you don't feel too overwhelmed.
the other day
- see 1other
these days : at the present time
• It seems that everyone has a cell phone these days. [=nowadays]
• What kind of music are you listening to these days?
• These days, she has a very busy social life.
✦The phrase one of these days means at some time in the future.
• One of these days, [=one day] I'm going to buy myself a boat.
those days : a period of time in the past
• Remember when we were kids and life was easy? Well, those days are gone.
• In those days, women weren't allowed to own property.
• No one knew in those days what caused the disease.
✦If it is (just) one of those days, it is a day in which many bad or unpleasant things happen.
• It's just one of those days when everything seems to go wrong.
• I missed the bus and sprained my ankle; it was one of those days when nothing was going right.
to the day : to exactly a specified number of years
• It's been 100 years to the day since their great discovery.
• Soon after their wedding, almost a year to the day, they got divorced.
to this day : up to now : continuing until today
• To this day, I still don't know what happened.
• The belief persists to this day.
