duration

[ doo-rey-shuhn, dyoo- ]

/ dʊˈreɪ ʃən, dyʊ- /

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See synonyms for duration on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

continuance in time.

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

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of duration

1350–1400; Middle English <Medieval Latin dūrātiōn- (stem of dūrātiō), equivalent to Latin dūrāt(us) (past participle of dūrāre to last; see dure²) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM duration

du·ra·tion·al, adjective

Words nearby duration

Durant, Durante, durante vita, Duranty, Duras, duration, durative, Durazzo, Durban, Durban poison, durbar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use duration in a sentence

Postseason NHL fights since 2016 by duration of fight and average period they occurredFights were timed from the moment a player’s gloves fell to the ice until an official stepped in.
Fighting Didn’t Stop In The NHL Bubble|Josh Planos|August 26, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The case suggests that vaccine trials should be monitoring for the duration of protection against the coronavirus, which is still unknown, To said.
What the first confirmed COVID-19 reinfection tells us about a future vaccine|Naomi Xu Elegant|August 25, 2020|Fortune
Days later, the scientists found that in two of the colonies, at least 84% of the bats glowed, which suggests that a transferable vaccine applied this way could immunize enough bats to reduce the frequency, size and duration of rabies outbreaks.
Can Vaccines for Wildlife Prevent Human Pandemics?|Rodrigo Pérez Ortega|August 24, 2020|Quanta Magazine
This year Canticos watch time and subscribers have grown more than 1,000 percent, Wolfe Pereira says, with average view duration up 82 percent.
Your Kids Need a Dose of Bilingual Culture? He Can Help|Nick Fouriezos|August 9, 2020|Ozy

It measures your body and watches you for the duration of the exam, tracking your movements to identify what it considers cheating behaviors.
Software that monitors students during tests perpetuates inequality and violates their privacy|Amy Nordrum|August 7, 2020|MIT Technology Review
For the entire duration of the hours I spent inside San Pedro I noticed my abdominal muscles remained perpetually clenched.
Cocaine, Politicians and Wives: Inside the World’s Most Bizarre Prison|Jason Batansky|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Overall, the average duration of illness at sampling was nine days.
Did One Liberian Prostitute Give Ebola to Eight Soldiers?|Kent Sepkowitz|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every couple, regardless of racial makeup, will hear this question countless times through the duration of their relationship.
The Ongoing Stigma of Interracial Dating|Keli Goff|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Illinois, such intervention programs last a minimum of 26 weeks; other states require the duration to last at least a year.
Was Firing Ray Rice The Right Move?|Caitlin Dickson|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Regularity is more important than duration so that it integrates into the mind and body,” says Cruikshank.
Yoga Is Good for You. But Is It Medicine?|DailyBurn|June 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Will this position be permanent or will its duration be limited practically to the period of the war?
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
Water was also found in many other parts, but all the runs appeared to be of temporary duration.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
The policy of the law has changed in this regard, and the duration of their existence is limited to a comparatively short period.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
Snow falls very infrequently except in the mountain areas and usually is of short duration whenever it appears.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
More generally, leases of doubtful duration are construed in favor of the tenants.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for duration

duration

/ (djʊˈreɪʃən) /

noun

the length of time that something lasts or continues

Derived forms of duration

durational, adjective

Word Origin for duration

C14: from Medieval Latin dūrātiō, from Latin dūrāre to last

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

duration

Origin of duration

OTHER WORDS FROM duration

Words nearby duration

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How to use duration in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for duration

Derived forms of duration

Word Origin for duration