everyday

[ev-ree-dey, ev-ree-dey]

adjective

1. of or relating to every day; daily.

   an everyday occurrence.

2. of or for ordinary days, as contrasted with Sundays, holidays, or special occasions.

   everyday clothes.

   Synonyms: usual, common, workday

3. such as is met with every day; ordinary; commonplace.

   a placid, everyday scene.

   Synonyms: usual, common, workday

noun

1. the routine or ordinary day or occasion.

   We use inexpensive plates for everyday.

everyday

/ ˈɛvrɪˌdeɪ /

adjective

1. happening each day; daily

2. commonplace or usual; ordinary

3. suitable for or used on ordinary days as distinct from Sundays or special days

Other Word Forms

• everydayness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of everyday¹

First recorded in 1325–75, everyday is from the Middle English word everydayes. See every, day

Example Sentences

Mr Phillips' mother Julia also wrote him a letter - provided to New Zealand outlet Stuff - saying that everyday she hoped "today will be the day that you all come home".

Read more on BBC

He very much believes he’s doing right by Tulsa’s everyday people, a working-class community at the mercy of men like Donald Washberg and the capitalist power brokers silently enabling his political career.

Read more on Salon

The event, which has been happening in one form or another since the early 1990s, features tours, lectures, themed get-togethers and a craft fair, celebrating both the famous homes and the everyday ones.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Both Sarah and Jon are deaf, and mum Sarah finds making crafts a way for her to destress from everyday life.

Read more on BBC

“That’s just how his brain worked,” she says of his keen eye that transformed everyday ephemera into a valuable historical archive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• commonplace 
• frequent 
• mundane 
• normal 
• ordinary 
• prosaic 
• usual 
• workaday 

When To Use

What’s the difference between everyday and every day?

Everyday is most commonly used as an adjective meaning daily or, in a more figurative sense, ordinary, as in an everyday occurrence. The phrase every day means each day—it functions as an adverb to describe how frequently an action is done, as in I try to exercise every day. Think of it this way: everyday is used to describe nouns, while every day is used to describe verbs.For example, a person might aspire to go for a run every day, eat vegetables every day, and read every day. If they did these things every day (or most days), these activities would constitute part of their everyday routine.If you can replace the term with regular or ordinary, use everyday. If you can replace it with each day, use every day. Careful—the word daily can be used to replace both terms in certain situations (such as I exercise every day and This is one of my everyday exercises).Here’s an example of everyday and every day used correctly in the same sentence.Example: Every day this week I’ve tried to change one thing about my everyday routine.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between everyday and every day.