English Reference
noun · adjective

daytime

n. · adj.
US /ˈdeɪˌtaɪm/ UK /dˈeɪtaɪm/ day·time

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    n.the time of day when it is light outside.

    n.the period of natural light between dawn and dusk.

    Simple

    The park is much safer to walk through during the daytime.

    In context

    While the desert is scorching during the daytime, temperatures can plummet rapidly once the sun disappears below the horizon.

    Usage

    Often used with 'in the' or 'during the'.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    adj.describes something that happens or is used during the day rather than at night.

    adj.occurring, active, or used during the hours of daylight.

    Simple

    She prefers watching daytime television while she eats her lunch.

    In context

    The network shifted its programming strategy to include more educational daytime broadcasts for children staying home from school.

    Usage

    Usually placed before a noun.

    Teacher's tip

    In biological contexts, 'diurnal' is the technical term, but 'daytime' is the standard choice for everyday activities.


From day + time.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated