duration

[doo-rey-shuhn, dyoo-]

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.

duration

/ djʊˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the length of time that something lasts or continues

Other Word Forms

• durational adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of duration¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of duration¹

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

Example Sentences

The duration of cyanobacterial blooms is increasing with climate warming and nutrient inputs associated with agricultural runoff and sewage discharges.

Read more on Science Daily

For the duration of the procedure the client is wide awake, having had low levels of local anaesthetic injected into the skin and the deeper tissue beneath.

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The government shutdown has caused BLS personnel to pause collecting, processing, or publishing economic data for the duration of the shutdown.

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Managing stress through relaxation techniques and limiting screen exposure before bedtime may enhance sleep duration and quality.

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In that same Fortune article, Ellison himself said he was sticking around for “the duration,” which has worked out pretty well so far.

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Related Words

• continuation 
• extent 
• period 
• span