Definition of DAY

1

: 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.

Note: If you do not look a day over a particular age, you appear to be that age.

Note: 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.

2

: the time of light between one night and the next : the part of the day when light from the sun can be seen

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.

He sleeps during the day [=daytime] and works at night.

You can call me anytime, 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]

3

: the part of the day when people are usually most active and when most businesses are open

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!"

I'll be gone all day.

It rained all day long.

Note: 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.

4

: 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.

Note: If something is all in a day's work for someone, it is part of a person's typical work.

Note: To take a/the day off is to decide not to work on a particular day.

5

: 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]

Note: If a day is your day, something good will happen to you on that day.

Note: People sometimes use the phrase that'll be the day to say that they think something will not happen.

6

: 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.

Note: 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.

Simple Definition of day

day

noun

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