day-to-day

1 of 2

adjective

ˈdā-tə-ˈdā 

1

: taking place, made, or done in the course of days

in charge of day-to-day operations

also : everyday

day-to-day life

2

: providing for a day at a time with little thought for the future

an aimless day-to-day existence

day-to-day adverb

or day to day

struggling day-to-day [=every day] with depression

living day to day [=one day at a time]

… it's impossible to live with devastation day to day and not look on all the concern over one still-healthy individual as a vulgar spectacle.

—Robert Massa

day-to-day

2 of 2

noun

plural day-to-days

: a usual routine that occurs each day

… a feeling of hope and adventure that many of us lack in our day-to-day.

—Nathan Mattise

But the woman is fearless, living life in a perpetual state of curiosity despite her repetitive day-to-day.

—Alex Suskind

Synonyms of day-to-day

Adjective

• daily

Examples of day-to-day in a Sentence

Adjective

the day-to-day routine of commuting to work

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Covering day-to-day expenses was the biggest source of concern, the analysis found. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026

This phenomenon can be quite relevant even in day-to-day life. —Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 31 Mar. 2026

Noun

Once a year, the editors of New York set out to make the day-to-day task of living in this city easier for our readers — both those who have been here since birth and those who are still discovering (and adjusting to) its peculiarities and price tags. —The Editors, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026

Through all the day-to-day noise that can affect investors’ opinions, stock prices tend to move with the direction of corporate profits over the long term. —Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1965, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for day-to-day

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Video

Is It 'day today' or 'day-to-day'?

What about Day Tomorrow?

Kids Definition

day-to-day

adjective

ˈdāt-ə-ˌdā

1

: taking place, made, or done in the course of days

day-to-day problems

2

: providing for a day at a time with little thought of the future

a day-to-day existence