during

preposition

dur·​ing ˈdu̇r-iŋ How to pronounce during (audio)
 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

Example Sentences

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 Kennel video shows opportunity, prosecution says Primarily using phone forensics, Waters reconstructed a timeline of the prosecution’s version of events before, during and after the murders by the kennels at Moselle. Eric Levenson, CNN, 1 Mar. 2023 Rhoda Mann, executive director of VOICES for Alabama’s Children, said that the bonuses given to childcare employees during the coronavirus pandemic came out to around $12,000 a year. Jemma Stephenson, al, 1 Mar. 2023 But opponents blamed Lightfoot for an increase in crime that occured in cities across the U.S. during the pandemic and criticized her as being a divisive, overly contentious leader. Sara Burnett, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Mar. 2023 Violent crime rose in cities across the nation during the pandemic, including in Chicago, where carjackings and shootings soared. Grace Hauck, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2023 School closures and Lightfoot’s efforts to reopen schools during the pandemic didn’t help; the union pushed back against early 2021 reopening plans and accused Lightfoot of failing to negotiate. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2023 On Wednesday, March 1, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program’s emergency funds offered during the COVID-19 pandemic will end. oregonlive, 1 Mar. 2023 The 1,670-square-foot restaurant, which seats 140, occupies the space at 1700 Fillmore Street that formerly housed an outpost of Dosa, the upscale South Indian restaurant chain that shuttered during the pandemic. Alyson Sheppard, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2023 According to data provided to The Times, LAPD investigators have rejected all but about 2% of misconduct allegations out of the hundreds leveled against officers during and after the protests. Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'during.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of during was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near during

Cite this Entry

“During.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/during. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

during

preposition
dur·​ing ˌd(y)u̇r-iŋ How to pronounce during (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on during

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