during

preposition

dur·​ing ˈdu̇r-iŋ 

also ˈdyu̇r-

1

: throughout the duration of

swims every day during the summer

2

: at a point in the course of

was offered a job during a visit to the capital

Synonyms of during

• throughout
• by

Examples of during in a Sentence

She swims every day during the summer.

We got along well during the trip.

He worked in the field during most of the day.

During the interview, they asked about my previous jobs.

The fire alarm went off during the ceremony.

Recent Examples on the Web

Wasserman, during the presentation, said that out of the Games’ estimated 14 million tickets, approximately 1 million will sell for $28 and that roughly a third of tickets would be under $100. —Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026

The event, which also included a ball drop, is held to help bring camaraderie and joyfulness to seniors during the holiday season, and celebrate the arrival of the new year. —Encinitas Advocate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

Also during the robbery, at least one of the intruders reportedly brandished a gun at a security guard while another member of the group held his arms and took him to the ground. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026

Whatever his contemporaries thought of Melville’s prose, at least his coworkers respected his dedication and honesty, the later a rare commodity in government work during the late nineteenth-century. —Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from present participle of duren to last, from Anglo-French durer, from Latin durare to harden, endure, last, from durus hard; perhaps akin to Sanskrit dāru wood — more at tree entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for during

• curing
• luring
• mooring
• touring
• alluring
• assuring
• contouring
• enduring
• ensuring
• insuring
• manuring
• maturing

Kids Definition

during

preposition

dur·​ing ˌd(y)u̇r-iŋ 

1

: throughout the course of

swims every day during the summer

2

: at some time in the course of

you may call me during the day