during

during

The children play outside during the afternoon.

Definition
  1. Preposition:
    • Throughout the course or duration of: "during" indicates a period of time in which something happens, from the beginning to the end of that period.
    • At a specific point within a period: "during" can also refer to a particular moment or event occurring inside a longer time frame.
Usage Examples

  • Throughout a period:

    • She read a book during the flight. (She read from the start to the end of the flight.)
    • The store is closed during the holidays. (The store is not open for the entire holiday period.)

  • At a specific point within a period:

    • He called me during the meeting. (He called at some point while the meeting was happening.)
    • The accident occurred during the storm. (The accident happened at a particular moment while the storm was ongoing.)
Advanced Usage

  • "during the course of": a formal phrase meaning throughout the entire time of something.

    • During the course of the investigation, new evidence emerged. (Over the whole period of the investigation, evidence appeared.)

  • "during which": used to introduce a relative clause referring to a period of time.

    • The summer, during which we travelled to Europe, was unforgettable. (The summer, throughout which we travelled, was memorable.)
Variants and Related Words
  • None: "during" is a standalone preposition with no common variants or derived forms. It does not function as a noun, verb, or adjective in standard English.
Synonyms
  • Throughout: from the beginning to the end of a period.
    • He worked throughout the night. (He worked for the entire night.)
  • In the course of: during a specified period or event.
    • In the course of the lecture, the professor answered questions. (During the lecture, questions were answered.)
  • Within: inside the time limits of a period.
    • The task must be completed within the week. (The task must be done during the week.)
Phrasal Verbs
  • None: "during" is a preposition and does not form phrasal verbs.
Related Idioms
  • None: "during" does not appear in common idiomatic expressions as a key word. However, it is used in phrases like "during the day" or "during the night," which are not idioms but standard time references.