during

[door-ing, dyoor-]

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.

during

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of during¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of during¹

C14: from duren to last, ultimately from Latin dūrāre to last

Example Sentences

Ayton’s back flared up during the Lakers’ win in Memphis on Friday, causing him to sit out the entire second half.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Governments across Europe that borrowed heavily during the pandemic and energy crisis are trying to put their financial house in order.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some question whether massive bond-buying programs carried out by the European Central Bank and others after the financial crisis, and again during the pandemic, are partly to blame.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Few analysts believe that Hanoi, with its much smaller navy and air force, could actually defend the outposts during an all-out war.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The extreme temperatures, gas, and friction produced during gunfire typically destroy any biological residue.

Read more on Science Daily

When To Use

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.