day 
/ˈdeɪ/ noun
plural days /ˈdeɪ/ noun 1 [count] : a period of 24 hours beginning at midnight : one of the seven time periods that make up a week
▪ We're open seven days a week, 365 days a year. ▪ Payment is due on the first day of every month. ▪ “What day is (it) today?” “Tuesday.” ▪ “What day [=date] is Friday?” “It's the 28th.” ▪ “What day of the week is the 28th?” “It's a Friday.” ▪ He spent five days in the hospital. ▪ She left on Thursday and came back four days later. ▪ The baby is due (to be born) in three days. ▪ That was the happiest day of my life. ▪ Parenthood gets better every day. ▪ We'll be finished in a day or two. = We'll be finished in a couple of days. ▪ It rained for a day and a half. [=it rained for about 36 hours] ▪ The office is closed for the day. ▪ I call him every (single) day. ▪ Tomorrow is another day. [=there will be more opportunities to do things tomorrow] ▪ a day of celebration/mourning [=a day for people to celebrate/mourn] ▪ Take one pill two times a day. [=each day] ▪ She works eight hours a day. ▪ It costs 10 dollars a day to park there. ▪ The party is the day after tomorrow. = The party is in two days. ▪ It happened the day before yesterday. = It happened two days ago. ▪ Sometimes they didn't speak to each other for days on end. [=several days] ▪ From that day forth/forward [=(less formally) from then on], I was determined to do better. ◊If you do not look a day over a particular age, you appear to be that age.
▪ “Today's my 50th birthday.” “Really? I'm surprised. You don't look a day over 40.” [=you don't look any older than 40 years old] ◊If you say that someone is a particular age if he/she is a day, you mean that the person is that age or older.
▪ The man she's dating is 60 if he's a day. [=he is at least sixty years old] 2 : the time of light between one night and the next : the part of the day when light from the sun can be seen [count] ▪ What a beautiful summer day! ▪ a cold/wet/rainy day ▪ The shortest day of the year is usually December 22, and June 22 is usually the longest. [noncount] ▪ He sleeps during the day [=daytime] and works at night. ▪ You can call me any time, day or night. ▪ These animals are mostly active during the day. ▪ I work during the day. [=I work days] ▪ She's a student by day [=during the day] and a waitress by night. ▪ I woke at (the) break of day. [=(more commonly) dawn, daybreak, sunrise] ▪ day workers [=people who work during the day] — opposite night 3 : the part of the day when people are usually most active and when most businesses are open [singular] ▪ I like to start my day with a cup of coffee. [=I like to drink a cup of coffee as soon as I wake up] ▪ We decided to rent a car for the day. ▪ How was your day? ▪ By the end of the day, we were all exhausted. ▪ Our neighbors play their loud music at all hours of the day. [=throughout the day] ▪ Let's go to bed. We have an early day [=we will get out of bed early] tomorrow. ▪ I needed to relax after a long day at work/school. [=after working/being at school for a long time] ▪ “Thank you, ma'am. Have a nice day!” [noncount] ▪ I'll be gone all day. ▪ It rained all day long. ◊People sometimes say that they can't wait all day or don't have all day when they are in a hurry and need someone to move or act more quickly. These phrases are usually used in a rude way.
▪ Hurry up! I can't wait all day! = I don't have all day. = I haven't got all day. 4 [count] : the hours during a day when a person works or goes to school or when a company does business
▪ I put in four twelve-hour days [=workdays] this week. ▪ She makes about 50 dollars a/per day. ▪ He was late for his first day on the job. ▪ They collected a full day's pay for half a day's work. ▪ We had a busy couple of days at the store. ▪ We have a short day tomorrow. [=we have to work fewer hours tomorrow than usual] ▪ The school committee is pushing for a longer school day. ▪ Tomorrow's our last day of school (for the school year). ▪ Please allow 14 business days [=days when most businesses are open; weekdays that are not holidays] for delivery. ◊If something is all in a day's work for someone, it is part of a person's typical work.
▪ Solving violent crimes is all in a day's work for these police detectives. ◊To take a/the day off is to decide not to work on a particular day.
▪ He took the day off to go fishing. 5 [count] : the day on which something specified happens or is expected to happen
▪ It rained on their wedding day. ▪ the day of his birth ▪ This Sunday is family day [=a day for families especially with young children] at the amusement park. ▪ If you've been waiting for the perfect skiing conditions, today's the day. [=the conditions are perfect today] ▪ So, when's the big day? When are you getting married? ▪ Did you ever think you'd see the day when he would apologize? [=did you believe he would ever apologize?] ▪ I never thought I would live to see the day when you would graduate from college. [=I did not think I would live long enough to see you graduate] ▪ Let her have her day in court [=let her defend herself in a court of law] before you pass judgment on her. ▪ This is your lucky day. [=a day when something good happens to you] ◊If a day is your day, something good will happen to you on that day.
▪ You never know. Maybe today will be my day. [=maybe I will succeed, win, etc., today] ▪ I'm sorry you lost. I guess it just wasn't your day. ◊People sometimes use the phrase that'll be the day to say that they think something will not happen.
▪ “Do you think he'll ever admit he made a mistake?” “That'll be the day!” 6 [count] : a particular period of time
▪ She was the most talented actress of her day. [=during the time when she lived and worked as an actress] ▪ In my day [=when I was young], boys asked girls out on dates, not the other way around. ▪ Life was simpler in my grandmother's day, but it wasn't easier. ▪ We sell books dating from 1875 to the present day. [=today] — often plural ▪ He often spoke about his days as a soldier. ▪ I was quite an athlete in my younger days. [=when I was young] ▪ The practice dates back to the days of ancient Rome. ▪ the olden days ▪ my college days [=when I was in college] ▪ the days of stagecoaches [=when stagecoaches were used] ▪ In those days many factory workers were children. ◊The saying those were the days is sometimes used to say that a period of time in the past was pleasant and often better than the present time.
▪ When I was a kid, we spent our summers at the beach. Those were the days! ▪ In the 1960s, everything seemed possible. Those were the good old days.
▪ We're open seven days a week, 365 days a year. ▪ Payment is due on the first day of every month. ▪ “What day is (it) today?” “Tuesday.” ▪ “What day [=date] is Friday?” “It's the 28th.” ▪ “What day of the week is the 28th?” “It's a Friday.” ▪ He spent five days in the hospital. ▪ She left on Thursday and came back four days later. ▪ The baby is due (to be born) in three days. ▪ That was the happiest day of my life. ▪ Parenthood gets better every day. ▪ We'll be finished in a day or two. = We'll be finished in a couple of days. ▪ It rained for a day and a half. [=it rained for about 36 hours] ▪ The office is closed for the day. ▪ I call him every (single) day. ▪ Tomorrow is another day. [=there will be more opportunities to do things tomorrow] ▪ a day of celebration/mourning [=a day for people to celebrate/mourn] ▪ Take one pill two times a day. [=each day] ▪ She works eight hours a day. ▪ It costs 10 dollars a day to park there. ▪ The party is the day after tomorrow. = The party is in two days. ▪ It happened the day before yesterday. = It happened two days ago. ▪ Sometimes they didn't speak to each other for days on end. [=several days] ▪ From that day forth/forward [=(less formally) from then on], I was determined to do better. ◊If you do not look a day over a particular age, you appear to be that age.
▪ “Today's my 50th birthday.” “Really? I'm surprised. You don't look a day over 40.” [=you don't look any older than 40 years old] ◊If you say that someone is a particular age if he/she is a day, you mean that the person is that age or older.
▪ The man she's dating is 60 if he's a day. [=he is at least sixty years old]
▪ Hurry up! I can't wait all day! = I don't have all day. = I haven't got all day.
▪ I put in four twelve-hour days [=workdays] this week. ▪ She makes about 50 dollars a/per day. ▪ He was late for his first day on the job. ▪ They collected a full day's pay for half a day's work. ▪ We had a busy couple of days at the store. ▪ We have a short day tomorrow. [=we have to work fewer hours tomorrow than usual] ▪ The school committee is pushing for a longer school day. ▪ Tomorrow's our last day of school (for the school year). ▪ Please allow 14 business days [=days when most businesses are open; weekdays that are not holidays] for delivery. ◊If something is all in a day's work for someone, it is part of a person's typical work.
▪ Solving violent crimes is all in a day's work for these police detectives. ◊To take a/the day off is to decide not to work on a particular day.
▪ He took the day off to go fishing.
▪ It rained on their wedding day. ▪ the day of his birth ▪ This Sunday is family day [=a day for families especially with young children] at the amusement park. ▪ If you've been waiting for the perfect skiing conditions, today's the day. [=the conditions are perfect today] ▪ So, when's the big day? When are you getting married? ▪ Did you ever think you'd see the day when he would apologize? [=did you believe he would ever apologize?] ▪ I never thought I would live to see the day when you would graduate from college. [=I did not think I would live long enough to see you graduate] ▪ Let her have her day in court [=let her defend herself in a court of law] before you pass judgment on her. ▪ This is your lucky day. [=a day when something good happens to you] ◊If a day is your day, something good will happen to you on that day.
▪ You never know. Maybe today will be my day. [=maybe I will succeed, win, etc., today] ▪ I'm sorry you lost. I guess it just wasn't your day. ◊People sometimes use the phrase that'll be the day to say that they think something will not happen.
▪ “Do you think he'll ever admit he made a mistake?” “That'll be the day!”
▪ She was the most talented actress of her day. [=during the time when she lived and worked as an actress] ▪ In my day [=when I was young], boys asked girls out on dates, not the other way around. ▪ Life was simpler in my grandmother's day, but it wasn't easier. ▪ We sell books dating from 1875 to the present day. [=today] — often plural ▪ He often spoke about his days as a soldier. ▪ I was quite an athlete in my younger days. [=when I was young] ▪ The practice dates back to the days of ancient Rome. ▪ the olden days ▪ my college days [=when I was in college] ▪ the days of stagecoaches [=when stagecoaches were used] ▪ In those days many factory workers were children. ◊The saying those were the days is sometimes used to say that a period of time in the past was pleasant and often better than the present time.
▪ When I was a kid, we spent our summers at the beach. Those were the days! ▪ In the 1960s, everything seemed possible. Those were the good old days.
(all) the livelong day — see livelong
any day now
: within the next few days : soon
▪ We're expecting a phone call from him any day now. [=in the near future] ▪ Any day now, the decision could be made.
▪ We're expecting a phone call from him any day now. [=in the near future] ▪ Any day now, the decision could be made.
at the end of the day — see 1end
call it a day — see 1call
carry/win the day
: to win or be successful
▪ The “no” vote carried the day. [=prevailed] ▪ We believe that truth and justice will carry/win the day.
▪ The “no” vote carried the day. [=prevailed] ▪ We believe that truth and justice will carry/win the day.
day after day
: for several days without stopping or changing
▪ She wore the same pants day after day. ▪ Day after day, we hear the same complaints from our customers.
▪ She wore the same pants day after day. ▪ Day after day, we hear the same complaints from our customers.
day and night or night and day 1 : all the time : without stopping
▪ We've been working on it day and night. = We've been working on it night and day. 2 : complete or total
▪ The difference between them is day and night. = The difference between them is night and day. [=they are completely different]
▪ We've been working on it day and night. = We've been working on it night and day.
▪ The difference between them is day and night. = The difference between them is night and day. [=they are completely different]
day by day
: in small amounts every day
▪ Day by day, the situation is becoming more complex. ▪ She felt herself growing stronger day by day. [=every day] ◊If you take it/things day by day, you make progress in a slow and careful way by dealing with each day as it comes.
▪ He hopes to make a full recovery after his surgery, but right now he's just taking it day by day. [=taking it one day at a time, taking each day as it comes] ▪ I don't know if our relationship is going to work out. I'm taking things day by day at this point.
▪ Day by day, the situation is becoming more complex. ▪ She felt herself growing stronger day by day. [=every day] ◊If you take it/things day by day, you make progress in a slow and careful way by dealing with each day as it comes.
▪ He hopes to make a full recovery after his surgery, but right now he's just taking it day by day. [=taking it one day at a time, taking each day as it comes] ▪ I don't know if our relationship is going to work out. I'm taking things day by day at this point.
day in, day out or day in and day out
: every day for many days : for a long time without stopping or changing
▪ She does the same thing at her job day in, day out. ▪ It can be difficult to spend all of your time with one person day in and day out.
▪ She does the same thing at her job day in, day out. ▪ It can be difficult to spend all of your time with one person day in and day out.
days are numbered — see 2number
early days (yet) — see 2early
every dog has its day — see 1dog
for a rainy day — see rainy
from day to day
: every day
▪ His opinions seem to change from day to day. [=from one day to the next] — see also day-to-day
▪ His opinions seem to change from day to day. [=from one day to the next] — see also day-to-day
from one day to the next
: every day
▪ She changes her mind from one day to the next. [=from day to day] : as one day becomes another day ▪ You never know from one day to the next what's going to happen to you.
▪ She changes her mind from one day to the next. [=from day to day] : as one day becomes another day ▪ You never know from one day to the next what's going to happen to you.
give (someone) the time of day
chiefly US, informal : to pay attention to someone — usually used in negative statements ▪ No one would give us the time of day. ▪ I needed their help, but they wouldn't give me the time of day.
glory days — see 1glory
have seen/known better days — see 1better
in all your born days — see born
in the cold light of day — see 1cold
in this day and age
: at the present time in history
▪ Computers are essential to getting work done in this day and age. [=nowadays] ▪ It's unbelievable that in this day and age people are still dying from hunger.
▪ Computers are essential to getting work done in this day and age. [=nowadays] ▪ It's unbelievable that in this day and age people are still dying from hunger.
it is not every day
— used to say that something happens very rarely ▪ It's not every day that I get to meet the President. ▪ Go ahead and spend the extra money. It's not every day that you get married.
late in the day — see 1late
make someone's day
: to cause someone's day to be pleasant or happy
▪ Thanks for the compliment. You've really made my day! ▪ It made my day to see his smiling face.
▪ Thanks for the compliment. You've really made my day! ▪ It made my day to see his smiling face.
of the day 1 : served in a restaurant as a special item on a particular day
▪ What's the fish/vegetable of the day? ▪ Our soup of the day [=du jour] is vegetable beef. 2 : of a particular period of time
▪ What were some of the popular movies of the day? [=that were popular during that time] ▪ the important issues of the day
▪ What's the fish/vegetable of the day? ▪ Our soup of the day [=du jour] is vegetable beef.
▪ What were some of the popular movies of the day? [=that were popular during that time] ▪ the important issues of the day
one day 1 : at some time in the future
▪ One day, it'll happen. You'll see. ▪ People may one day [=someday] be able to take vacations to the moon. 2 : on a day in the past
▪ I went to her house one day and had lunch with her. ▪ One day, we had a terrible argument.
▪ One day, it'll happen. You'll see. ▪ People may one day [=someday] be able to take vacations to the moon.
▪ I went to her house one day and had lunch with her. ▪ One day, we had a terrible argument.
on the day
Brit : on the day that an event happens
▪ I know we seem a bit disorganized now, but we'll be all right on the day. ▪ Whether we win or not depends on which players are healthy on the day.
▪ I know we seem a bit disorganized now, but we'll be all right on the day. ▪ Whether we win or not depends on which players are healthy on the day.
save the day — see 1save
see the light of day — see 1light
some day
: at some time in the future : someday
▪ Some day I may be rich enough to own two houses. ▪ I'd like to return there some day.
▪ Some day I may be rich enough to own two houses. ▪ I'd like to return there some day.
take each day as it comes or take one day at a time or take it/things one day at a time
: to deal with each day's problems as they come instead of worrying about the future
▪ There's no way to know what the future will bring, so just take each day as it comes and hope for the best. ▪ Take one day at a time and don't expect things to change overnight. ▪ It's important to take things one day at a time so you don't feel too overwhelmed.
▪ There's no way to know what the future will bring, so just take each day as it comes and hope for the best. ▪ Take one day at a time and don't expect things to change overnight. ▪ It's important to take things one day at a time so you don't feel too overwhelmed.
the other day — see 1other
these days
: at the present time
▪ It seems that everyone has a cell phone these days. [=nowadays] ▪ What kind of music are you listening to these days? ▪ These days, she has a very busy social life. ◊The phrase one of these days means at some time in the future.
▪ One of these days, [=one day] I'm going to buy myself a boat.
▪ It seems that everyone has a cell phone these days. [=nowadays] ▪ What kind of music are you listening to these days? ▪ These days, she has a very busy social life. ◊The phrase one of these days means at some time in the future.
▪ One of these days, [=one day] I'm going to buy myself a boat.
those days
: a period of time in the past
▪ Remember when we were kids and life was easy? Well, those days are gone. ▪ In those days, women weren't allowed to own property. ▪ No one knew in those days what caused the disease. ◊If it is (just) one of those days, it is a day in which many bad or unpleasant things happen.
▪ It's just one of those days when everything seems to go wrong. ▪ I missed the bus and sprained my ankle; it was one of those days when nothing was going right.
▪ Remember when we were kids and life was easy? Well, those days are gone. ▪ In those days, women weren't allowed to own property. ▪ No one knew in those days what caused the disease. ◊If it is (just) one of those days, it is a day in which many bad or unpleasant things happen.
▪ It's just one of those days when everything seems to go wrong. ▪ I missed the bus and sprained my ankle; it was one of those days when nothing was going right.
to the day
: to exactly a specified number of years
▪ It's been 100 years to the day since their great discovery. ▪ Soon after their wedding, almost a year to the day, they got divorced.
▪ It's been 100 years to the day since their great discovery. ▪ Soon after their wedding, almost a year to the day, they got divorced.
to this day
: up to now : continuing until today
▪ To this day, I still don't know what happened. ▪ The belief persists to this day.
▪ To this day, I still don't know what happened. ▪ The belief persists to this day.
