What is day? Pronunciation and usage in English

day means . Learn how to pronounce and use day through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of day

daynoun

/deɪ/
Definition & pronunciation of day

The word "day" in English is pronounced day.

It's a simple, one-syllable word. It sounds exactly as it's spelled.

Here's a breakdown to help:

  • "da" - rhymes with "father"
  • "y" - pronounced like the letter "y"

You can even listen to it online to get the perfect sound: https://www.dictionary.com/pronounce/day

Do you want me to explain any part of the pronunciation more clearly, or perhaps give you some example sentences?

Usage and examples with the word day in English

Let's break down how to use the word "day" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with lots of different meanings and ways to incorporate it into sentences.

1. As a Unit of Time (Most Common)

  • Simple Definition: This is the most basic meaning – a 24-hour period.
    • "Today is Monday."
    • "I woke up at 7 AM yesterday."
    • "Let's plan our trip for next day."
  • Referring to a specific day of the week:
    • "I love Saturdays."
    • "Do you have any plans for Friday?"
  • Using numbers to refer to days:
    • "Day 1 of the project is complete."
    • "What's happening on Day 5?"

2. As a Noun – Meaning “Light” or “Brightness”

  • Referring to daylight:
    • “The day was sunny.”
    • “She enjoys walking on a bright day.”
    • “There was a grey day.” (Meaning it was cloudy)
  • Figuratively (to represent a good time or period):
    • “It was a good day.” (Meaning it was a happy or successful day)
    • “This is a dark day for our family.” (Meaning a sad or difficult day)

3. As a Verb – Meaning “To Occur” or “To Happen”**

  • Simply stating when something happens:
    • “The meeting will take place tomorrow.” (Tomorrow is the day.)
    • “The show will day every night.” (The show happens every night – though this is slightly less common phrasing.)
  • "Day" as an action (less common, often in more formal writing):
    • "The artist will day a new painting next week." (The artist will produce or create a new painting) - This is more formal or literary.

4. Idiomatic Expressions with "Day"

  • "Have a good day!" – A common greeting or farewell.
  • "Live from New York, it's a new day!" (From Saturday Night Live) – Symbolic of a fresh start.
  • "A day in the life…” – Refers to a typical daily routine.
  • "Seeing is believing" – "It’s a day for believing." (Expressing astonishment)
  • "To seize the day" – (From Benjamin Franklin) – To make the most of the present moment.

5. "Day" as part of phrases:

  • "Day and night" – Always; constantly.
  • "Day after day" – Continually.
  • "Every day" – Each day.
  • "Long day" – A tiring or difficult day.
  • "Short day" – A quick or uneventful day.

Here's a breakdown of using “day” correctly:

  • Singular vs. Plural: "Day" is generally singular. “Days” is plural.
  • Capitalization: “Day” is typically not capitalized unless it’s part of a proper noun (like “Day of the Dead”).

To help me give you more specific guidance, could you tell me:

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  • Do you have a particular sentence you're struggling with?

Synonyms for the word day

Idioms of the word day

all in a day’s work
part of your normal working life and not unusual
  • Swimming with sharks or training a tiger cub—it's all in a day's work for animal wrangler Chris Bolton.
any day (now) | any time now
(informal)very soon
  • The letter should arrive any day now.
  • We expect more info on this any time now.
at the end of the day
(informal)used to introduce the most important fact after everything has been considered
  • At the end of the day, he'll still have to make his own decision.
back in the day
in the past
  • My dad's always talking about how great everything was back in the day.
back in the days
at a particular time in the past
  • I was a fan back in the days when the band wasn't yet famous.
break of day/dawn
(literary)the moment in the early hours of the morning when it begins to get light
    call it a day
    (informal)to decide or agree to stop doing something
    • After forty years in politics I think it's time for me to call it a day (= to retire).
    carry/win the day
    (formal)to be successful against somebody/something
    • Despite strong opposition, the ruling party carried the day.
    • Teamwork and persistence can still win the day.
    (as) clear as day
    easy to see or understand
      day after day
      each day repeatedly (used especially when something is boring or annoying)
      • She hates doing the same work day after day.
      day and night
      all the time; continuously
      • The store is open day and night.
      • The machines are kept running night and day.
      day by day
      all the time; a little at a time and gradually
      • Day by day his condition improved.
      • Morale was sinking day by day.
      day in, day out
      every day for a long period of time
      • Living on junk food day in day out is not good for you.
      a day of reckoning
      the time when somebody will have to deal with the result of something that they have done wrong, or be punished for something bad that they have done
        somebody’s/something’s days are numbered
        a person or thing will not continue to live, exist or be successful for much longer
        • His days as leader of the party are numbered.
        • Whatever the protests, the school’s days are numbered and it will be closed down.
        end your days/life (in something)
        to spend the last part of your life in a particular state or place
        • He ended his days in poverty.
        every dog has his/its day
        (saying)everyone has good luck or success at some point in their life
          the evil hour/day
          (often humorous)the time when you have to do something difficult or unpleasant
          • I’d better go and see the dentist—I can’t put off the evil hour any longer.
          • If you keep on borrowing, you are only postponing the evil day when you have to pay it all back.
          five a day
          (especially British English)the amount of fruit or vegetables that some organizations say you should eat in order to be healthy
          • Start your five a day with a banana for breakfast.
          from day one
          (informal)from the beginning
          • It's never worked from day one.
          • This game makes reading and spelling fun from day one.
          from day to day
          with no thoughts or plans for the future
          • They live from day to day, looking after their sick daughter.
          if a situation changes from day to day, it changes often
          • A baby's need for food can vary from day to day.
          from one day to the next
          if a situation changes from one day to the next, it is uncertain and not likely to stay the same each day
          • I never know what to expect from one day to the next.
          from that day/time forth
          (literary)beginning on that day; from that time
          • From that day forth she gave me endless friendship and encouragement.
          give me something/somebody (any day/time)
          (informal)used to say that you prefer a particular thing or person to the one that has just been mentioned
          • We don't go out much. Give me a quiet night in front of the TV any day!
          your good deed for the day
          a helpful, kind thing that you do
          • I took Sarah’s children to school so I’ve done my good deed for the day.
          • She felt that she had done her good deed for the day.
          the good/bad old days
          an earlier period of time in your life or in history that is seen as better/worse than the present
          • That was in the bad old days of rampant inflation.
          have had your day
          to no longer be successful, powerful, etc.
          • She's had her day as a supermodel.
          have a nice day!
          (informal, especially North American English)a friendly way of saying goodbye, especially to customers
            have seen/known better days
            (humorous)to be in poor condition
            • Our car has seen better days!
            if he’s, she’s, etc. a day
            (informal)(used when talking about somebody’s age) at least
            • He must be 70 if he's a day!
            in all my born days
            (old-fashioned, informal)used when you are very surprised at something you have never heard or seen before
            • I've never heard such nonsense in all my born days.
            in the cold light of day
            when you have had time to think calmly about something; in the morning when things are clearer
            • These things always look different in the cold light of day.
            in somebody’s day
            during the part of somebody’s life when they were most successful, famous, etc.
            • She was a great dancer in her day.
            • Things were very different in my grandfather's day.
            when somebody was young
            • In my day, there were plenty of jobs when you left school.
            • In Grandfather’s day, owning a television was very unusual.
            in the olden days
            a long time ago in the past
            • What was life like in the olden days, Gran?
            in this day and age
            now, in the modern world
            • Slavery continues to exist, even in this day and age.
            • Why dress so formally in this day and age?
            it’s early days (yet) | it's still early days
            (British English)used to say that it is too soon to be sure how a situation will develop
            • It’s early days yet. We don’t know if the play will be a success.
            it’s not somebody’s day
            (informal)used when several bad or unpleasant things happen on the same day
            • My car broke down and then I locked myself out—it's just not my day!
            late in the day
            (disapproving)after the time when an action could be successful
            • He started working hard much too late in the day—he couldn't possibly catch up.
            the livelong day
            (literary)the whole length of the day
              live to fight another day
              (saying)used to say that although you have failed or had a bad experience, you will continue
                make somebody’s day
                to make somebody feel very happy on a particular day
                • The phone call from Mike really made my day.
                make a day/night of it
                (informal)to make a particular activity that you enjoy last for a whole day/evening instead of only part of it
                • We took a picnic lunch to the river and made a day of it.
                • They decided to make a night of it and went on to a club.
                night and day
                all the time; continuously
                • The machines are kept running night and day.
                • The store is open day and night.
                a nine days’ wonder
                a person or thing that makes people excited for a short time but does not last very long
                  not give somebody the time of day
                  to refuse to speak to somebody because you do not like or respect them
                  • Since the success of her novel, people shake her hand who once wouldn't have given her the time of day.
                  not have all day
                  to not have much time
                  • Come on! We don't have all day!
                  of somebody’s day
                  during a particular period of time when somebody lived
                  • the best player of his day
                  • Bessie Smith was the Madonna of her day.
                  of the day
                  of the present time
                  • the political issues of the day
                  that is served on a particular day in a restaurant
                  • soup of the day
                  oh my days
                  used to emphasize what you are saying when you are surprised, shocked or annoyed
                  • Oh my days! Is that true?
                  one day
                  at some time in the future, or on a particular day in the past
                  • One day, I want to leave the city and move to the country.
                  • One day, he walked out of the house with a small bag and never came back.
                  one of these days
                  before a long time has passed
                  • One of these days you'll come back and ask me to forgive you.
                  one of those days
                  (informal)a day when there are a lot of mistakes and a lot of things go wrong
                  • It's been one of those days!
                  • It's been one of those days when everything's gone wrong.
                  the order of the day
                  common, popular or suitable at a particular time or for a particular occasion
                  • Pessimism seems to be the order of the day.
                  the other day/morning/evening/week
                  recently
                  • I saw Jack the other day.
                  • I was in your area the other week.
                  • I woke up the other morning and just could not get myself out of bed.
                  • I was watching TV the other evening, when…
                  pass the time of day (with somebody)
                  to say hello to somebody and have a short conversation with them
                    (as) plain as a pikestaff | (as) plain as day | (as) plain as the nose on your face
                    very obvious
                      Rome wasn’t built in a day
                      (saying)used to say that a complicated task will take a long time and should not be rushed
                        your salad days
                        (old-fashioned)the time when you are young and do not have much experience of life
                          save the day/situation
                          to prevent failure or defeat, when this seems certain to happen
                          • Salah's late goal saved the day for Liverpool.
                          save, keep, etc. something for a rainy day
                          to save something, especially money, for a time when you will really need it
                            some day
                            at an unknown time in the future
                            • Some day I'll be famous.
                            • I hope we meet again some day.
                            take it/things one day at a time
                            (informal)to not think about what will happen in the future
                            • I don't know if he'll get better. We're just taking it one day at a time.
                            that’ll be the day
                            (informal, ironic)used when you are saying that something is very unlikely to happen
                            • Paul? Apologize? That'll be the day!
                            these days
                            (informal)used to talk about the present, especially when you are comparing it with the past
                            • These days kids grow up so quickly.
                            those were the days
                            (informal)used to suggest that a time in the past was happier or better than now
                              to the day
                              exactly
                              • It's been three years to the day since we met.
                              to this day
                              even now, when a lot of time has passed
                              • To this day, I still don't understand why he did it.

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