day

[ dey ]

/ deɪ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR day ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the interval of light between two successive nights; the time between sunrise and sunset: Since there was no artificial illumination, all activities had to be carried on during the day.

the light of day; daylight: The owl sleeps by day and feeds by night.

Astronomy.

Also called mean solar day. a division of time equal to 24 hours and representing the average length of the period during which the earth makes one rotation on its axis.
Also called solar day. a division of time equal to the time elapsed between two consecutive returns of the same terrestrial meridian to the sun.
Also called civil day. a division of time equal to 24 hours but reckoned from one midnight to the next.See also lunar day, sidereal day.

an analogous division of time for a planet other than the earth: the Martian day.

the portion of a day allotted to work: an eight-hour day.

a day on which something occurs: the day we met.

(often initial capital letter) a day assigned to a particular purpose or observance: New Year's Day.

a time considered as propitious or opportune: His day will come.

a day of contest or the contest itself: to win the day.

Often days. a particular time or period: the present day; in days of old.

Usually days. period of life or activity: His days are numbered.

period of existence, power, or influence: in the day of the dinosaurs.

Architecture. light¹(def 19a).

Nearby words

dawning, dawson, dawson creek, dawsonite, dax, day, day after day, day and night, day bed, day blindness, day boy

Idioms

call it a day, to stop one's activity for the day or for the present; quit temporarily: After rewriting the paper, she decided to call it a day.

day and night. night(def 11).

day in, day out, every day without fail; regularly: They endured the noise and dirt of the city day in, day out.Also day in and day out.

Origin of day

before 950; Middle English; Old English dæg; cognate with German Tag

Related forms

half-day, nounpre·day, noun

Definition for day (2 of 2)

Day

[ dey ]

/ deɪ /

noun

Benjamin Henry,1810–89, U.S. newspaper publisher.

Clarence (Shep·ard)

[shep-erd] /ˈʃɛp ərd/, 1874–1935, U.S. author.

Dorothy,1897–1980, U.S. Roman Catholic social activist, journalist, and publisher.

Also Daye. Stephen,1594?–1668, U.S. colonist, born in England: considered the first printer in the Colonies.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for day

He added: “People say he deserves his day in court… Do we have enough time?”
Bill Maher: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Support Attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For many years afterward it was a never-ending topic of conversation, and is more or less talked of even to this day.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“We talked about the science the whole time the other day,” Krauss told The Daily Beast in a phone interview.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Luckily enough I have this dedicated flat that is just along from my house that I go to every day.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

I really wanted Trenchmouth to succeed and at the time wished we were as big as Green Day.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If she only knew what day Jimmy was to be in Washington she could arrange to meet him there.
The Little Colonel's Chum: Mary Ware|Annie Fellows Johnston
And then—well, I happen to forget what sort of a day this particular day turned into, about six of the clock.
Library of the World's Best literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 12|Various
Lizzie, indeed, is fond of work; she is busy all day long, and it is evident that her sewing-machine is not allowed to rust.
London's Heart|B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon
The march to Ali-Musjid occupied the greater part of the day.
Our Soldiers|W.H.G. Kingston
Percy, who played tackle on a winning Crimson eleven, and Sam Felton will be well remembered as the fastest punters of their day.
Football Days|William H. Edwards

British Dictionary definitions for day (1 of 2)

day

/ (deɪ) /

noun

Also called: civil day the period of time, the calendar day, of 24 hours' duration reckoned from one midnight to the next

the period of light between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from the night
(as modifier)the day shift

the part of a day occupied with regular activity, esp workhe took a day off

(sometimes plural) a period or point in timehe was a good singer in his day; in days gone by; any day now

the period of time, the sidereal day, during which the earth makes one complete revolution on its axis relative to a particular star. The mean sidereal day lasts 23 hours 56 minutes 4.1 seconds of the mean solar day

the period of time, the solar day, during which the earth makes one complete revolution on its axis relative to the sun. The mean solar day is the average length of the apparent solar day and is some four minutes (3 minutes 56.5 seconds of sidereal time) longer than the sidereal day

the period of time taken by a specified planet to make one complete rotation on its axisthe Martian day

(often capital) a day designated for a special observance, esp a holidayChristmas Day

all in a day's work part of one's normal activity; no trouble

at the end of the day in the final reckoning

day of rest the Sabbath; Sunday

end one's days to pass the end of one's life

every dog has his day one's luck will come

in this day and age nowadays

it's early days it's too early to tell how things will turn out

late in the day

very late (in a particular situation)
too late

that will be the day

I look forward to that
that is most unlikely to happen

a time of success, recognition, power, etchis day will soon come

a struggle or issue at handthe day is lost

the ground surface over a mine
(as modifier)the day level

from day to day without thinking of the future

call it a day to stop work or other activity

day after day without respite; relentlessly

day by day gradually or progressively; dailyhe weakened day by day

day in, day out every day and all day long

from Day 1 or from Day One from the very beginning

one of these days at some future time

(modifier) of, relating to, or occurring in the daythe day shift

Related forms

Related adjective: diurnal

Word Origin for day

Old English dæg; related to Old High German tag, Old Norse dagr

British Dictionary definitions for day (2 of 2)

Day

/ (deɪ) /

noun

Sir Robin. 1923–2000, British radio and television journalist, noted esp for his political interviews

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Science definitions for day

day

[ dā ]

See under sidereal time solar day.

Idioms and Phrases with day

day

In addition to the idioms beginning with day

day after day
day and night
day by day
day in court, have one's
day in, day out
day off
days are numbered, one's
day to day

also see:

all in a day's work
any day
apple a day
bad hair day
break of day
by the day
call it a day
carry the day
different as night and day
dog days
every dog has its day
field day
for days on end
forever and a day
from this day forward
good day
had its day
happy as the day is long
heavenly days
in all one's born days
in the cold light of day
in this day and age
late in the day
make a day of it
make one's day
name the day
night and day
not give someone the time of day
not one's day
one of these days
order of the day
pass the time (of day)
plain as day
rainy day
red-letter day
Rome wasn't built in a day
salad days
save the day
seen better days
see the light of day
that'll be the day
the other day
time of day
tomorrow is another day
win through (the day)