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during

[ door-ing, dyoor- ]
/ ˈdʊər ɪŋ, ˈdyʊər- /
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preposition
throughout the duration, continuance, or existence of: He lived in Florida during the winter.
at some time or point in the course of: They departed during the night.
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Origin of during

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at dure2, -ing2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT DURING

What does during mean?

During means throughout the entire time or at a certain point in time when something was happening.

During is a preposition, which is a type of word used before a noun or pronoun to relate it to another part of the sentence, especially to express a relationship based on space or time. During expresses a relationship based on time—it indicates that something happened not before or after something else, but at the same time.

It can mean that something occurred continuously while something else was happening, as in We stayed inside during the storm. 

Or it can mean that something occurred at a certain time or times while something else was happening, as in I only left the house once during the storm. 

When used in a sentence, during is usually followed by a noun or pronoun that indicates the time frame or event in which the action has taken place, as in during our vacation or during Spanish class or during the game.

Example: I hate how hot it gets during the summer.

Where does during come from?

The first records of the word during come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin dūrāre, meaning “to last.” The same root forms the basis of other words related to how long things last: endure, endurance, and duration.

During is always used when two things are happening simultaneously or concurrently—meaning they’re happening at the same time. In other words, during can be used whenever an action overlaps with another action or even—whether they overlap for the entirety of the time or just at certain points. If an action happens within the time frame of an event, it happens during it.

Saying you ran on the track team during high school means you did it while you were a high school student. Saying you went to get a snack during the movie means you did it while the movie was still on.

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What are some synonyms for during?

What are some words that share a root or word element with during

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing during?

 

How is during used in real life?

During is an extremely common word that’s used to indicate when certain actions were taken in relation to another event.

 

 

Try using during!

Is during used correctly in the following sentence?

The parking lot will be closed during the parade.

How to use during in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for during

during
/ (ˈdjʊərɪŋ) /

preposition
concurrently with (some other activity)kindly don't sleep during my lectures!
within the limit of (a period of time)during the day

Word Origin for during

C14: from duren to last, ultimately 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
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