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In its earliest appearances in English, in the 16th century, heyday was used as an interjection that expressed elation or wonder (similar to our word hey, from which it derives). Within a few decades, heyday was seeing use as a noun meaning "high spirits." This sense can be seen in Act III, scene 4 of Hamlet, when the Prince of Denmark tells his mother, "You cannot call it love; for at your age / The heyday in the blood is tame…." The word's second syllable is not thought to be borne of the modern word day (or any of its ancestors), but in the 18th century the syllable's resemblance to that word likely influenced the development of the now-familiar use referring to the period when one's achievement or popularity has reached its zenith.
Examples of heyday in a Sentence
Mark Puleo, New York Times, 28 June 2025
Plus there was a performance by Boyz 2 Men, a band well past their heyday and with a price tag that could have been as little as a few hundred thousand.
—Martina Di Licosa, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
The congregation has lost almost two-thirds of its membership since the COVID pandemic, from around 120 attendees in its heyday to 30-40 people currently.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
In its heyday, the hotel was known for its in-house band, which was led by jazz great Guy Lombardo.
—Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Heyday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heyday. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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