during

American  

[door-ing, dyoor-] / ˈdʊər ɪŋ, ˈdyʊər- /

preposition

1. throughout the duration, continuance, or existence of.

   He lived in Florida during the winter.

2. at some time or point in the course of.

   They departed during the night.

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during British  

/ ˈdjʊərɪŋ /

preposition

1. concurrently with (some other activity)

   kindly don't sleep during my lectures!

2. within the limit of (a period of time)

   during the day

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Usage

What does during mean? During means throughout the entire time or at a certain point in time when something was happening. During is a preposition, which is a type of word used before a noun or pronoun to relate it to another part of the sentence, especially to express a relationship based on space or time. During expresses a relationship based on time—it indicates that something happened not before or after something else, but at the same time. It can mean that something occurred continuously while something else was happening, as in We stayed inside during the storm. Or it can mean that something occurred at a certain time or times while something else was happening, as in I only left the house once during the storm. When used in a sentence, during is usually followed by a noun or pronoun that indicates the time frame or event in which the action has taken place, as in during our vacation or during Spanish class or during the game. Example: I hate how hot it gets during the summer.

Etymology

Origin of during

First recorded in 1350–1400; dure ² + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Because exercise and ibuprofen reduce inflammation through different biological pathways, researchers wanted to determine whether either approach, or a combination of both, could help protect cognitive function during chemotherapy.

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

More than 50 million bearish “put” option contracts changed hands during Friday’s tech selloff, the second-highest daily volume on record behind the April 2025 tariff selloff, show Cboe Global Markets data.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

The leaders of North Korea and China have adopted a "far-reaching blueprint" for bilateral ties during Xi Jinping's recent visit to Pyongyang, the Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

A straight-laced family man with a Catholic upbringing, Becerra was more reserved during the debates — a quiet confidence that drew some voters to support him.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

I’ve seen him play piano during school concerts; it gave me goose bumps.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold