duration

noun

du·​ra·​tion du̇-ˈrā-shən 

also dyu̇-

1

: continuance in time

gradually increase the duration of your workout

2

: the time during which something exists or lasts

were there for the duration of the concert

Synonyms of duration

• time
• lifespan
• lifetime
• life
• continuance
• date

Examples of duration in a Sentence

You should gradually increase the duration of your workout.

for the whole duration of the speech the bored audience fidgeted

Recent Examples on the Web

The team found that those who consistently had good sleep duration and quality reported having fewer injuries. —Korin Miller, SELF, 12 Nov. 2025

Bumblebees can process the duration of flashes of light and use the information to decide where to look for food, a new study has found. —Jack Guy, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025

That’s presuming a bank would not require a higher interest rate on a 50-year mortgage, due to the longer duration of the loan. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025

Sleep quality tends to decline as people get older, becoming lighter, interrupted, shorter in duration, and less restorative. —Jennifer Klump, Verywell Health, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see durance

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing duration

• for the duration

Rhymes for duration

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

duration

noun

du·​ra·​tion d(y)u̇-ˈrā-shən 

: the time during which something exists or lasts