plural days
1
a
: the time of light between one night and the next
the shortest day of the year
b
: daylight sense 1
woke up at the break of day
c
: daytime
sleeps during the day and works at night
2
astronomy
: the period of rotation of a planet (such as earth) or a moon on its axis
the length of one day on Mars
3
: the mean solar day of 24 hours beginning at midnight by mean time
open seven days a week
the first day of every month
Take one pill two times a day.
4
: a specified day or date
their wedding day
the day of her birth
5
: a specified time or period : age
in grandfather's day
—often used in pluralthe old days
the days of sailing ships
6
: the conflict or contention of the day
played hard and won the day
7
: the time established by usage or law for work, school, or business
starts his day with a cup of coffee
after a long day at school
We have a busy day tomorrow.
see also day after day, day in and day out
Examples of day in a Sentence
We're open seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Payment is due on the first day of every month.
“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.
That was the happiest day of my life.
Parenthood gets better every day.
The office is closed for the day.
She works eight hours a day.
It costs 10 dollars a day to park there.
Recent Examples on the Web
Last month, Indiana's governor signed a law directing schools to limit cellphone use during the school day.
—
The Arizona Republic, 13 Apr. 2024
Now 70 years old, Brito López recounted the horrors of that day to High Risk Court A in Guatemala City this week, saying the soldiers murdered his family during the early morning raid on January 20, 1982, burning their bodies inside their wooden home.
—Tara John, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
Its press release that day announced that David Calhoun will step down as CEO at year-end, and that chairman Larry Kellner, former head of Continental Airlines, will depart following the annual meeting on May 16, to be replaced by director Steve Mollenkopf, retired chief of Qualcomm.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
The picture taken that day is used as a player’s official head shot for the rest of the season, and so, all year, the image of Emo Jimmy has run next to starting-lineup announcements, highlight packages, and more.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
And science has more to say about the best time of day to exercise.
Check out those and more of the week’s most popular stories on Quartz.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2024
The 62-year-old man caught with the bait box had four prior misdemeanor theft convictions dating to 2016 and had served a total of 40 days in jail, according to court records.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
One year after he was shot on the front porch of a Kansas City home, Ralph Yarl is hanging onto his hope for justice, and still processing how that fateful day changed his life.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2024
Your next picnic in the park, day of exploring, or morning of running errands will be taken to new heights with this piece hanging in your closet at the ready.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2024
The Arizona Republic, 13 Apr. 2024
Now 70 years old, Brito López recounted the horrors of that day to High Risk Court A in Guatemala City this week, saying the soldiers murdered his family during the early morning raid on January 20, 1982, burning their bodies inside their wooden home.
—Tara John, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
Its press release that day announced that David Calhoun will step down as CEO at year-end, and that chairman Larry Kellner, former head of Continental Airlines, will depart following the annual meeting on May 16, to be replaced by director Steve Mollenkopf, retired chief of Qualcomm.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
The picture taken that day is used as a player’s official head shot for the rest of the season, and so, all year, the image of Emo Jimmy has run next to starting-lineup announcements, highlight packages, and more.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
And science has more to say about the best time of day to exercise.
Check out those and more of the week’s most popular stories on Quartz.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2024
The 62-year-old man caught with the bait box had four prior misdemeanor theft convictions dating to 2016 and had served a total of 40 days in jail, according to court records.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
One year after he was shot on the front porch of a Kansas City home, Ralph Yarl is hanging onto his hope for justice, and still processing how that fateful day changed his life.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2024
Your next picnic in the park, day of exploring, or morning of running errands will be taken to new heights with this piece hanging in your closet at the ready.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'day.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English dæg; akin to Old High German tag day
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of day was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing day
Dictionary Entries Near day
Cite this Entry
“Day.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/day. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
day
noun1
a
: the time of light between one night and the next
b
: daylight
2
a
: the time the earth takes to make one turn on its axis
b
: the time required for a heavenly body to turn once on its axis
a lunar day
3
: a period of 24 hours beginning at midnight
4
: a specified day or date
the day of the picnic
their wedding day
5
: a specified time or period : age
in grandmother's day
6
: the conflict or dispute of the day
fought hard and won the day
7
: the time set apart by custom or law for work
the eight-hour day
Biographical Definition
Day
2 of 3biographical name (2)
Thomas 1748–1789 English author
Day
3 of 3biographical name (3)
William Rufus 1849–1923 American statesman and jurist
More from Merriam-Webster on day
Nglish: Translation of day for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of day for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about day
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