duration

American  

[doo-rey-shuhn, dyoo-] / dʊˈreɪ ʃən, dyʊ- /

noun

1. the length of time something continues or exists (often used withthe ).

2. continuance in time.

3. (in the philosophy of Bergson) a temporal continuum, intuitively known, within which the élan vital operates.

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duration British  

/ djʊˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the length of time that something lasts or continues

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Other Word Forms

• durational adjective

Etymology

Origin of duration

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin dūrātiōn-, stem of dūrātiō, from Latin dūrāt(us) “lasted” (past participle of dūrāre “to last”; dure ² ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

The gamma-ray emission continued for at least seven hours, nearly doubling the duration of the previous record holder.

From Science Daily

Friday’s market movements have highlighted the “vulnerability and increased volatility in the superlong sector, suggesting continued caution toward duration,” the members add.

From The Wall Street Journal

“That doesn’t spell recession,” Bethune added, noting that would depend on the duration of the war.

From MarketWatch

While this amount of sideways movement is typical for strike-slip earthquakes, the very short duration of the motion stands out as a significant discovery.

From Science Daily

“Naturally, the full impact on the European economy will depend on the duration, scope, and intensity of the conflict,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• continuation
• extent
• period
• span