Word
during
Phoneticsdur·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɝɪŋ/
UK/djˈɔːɹɪŋ/
Españoldurante
Definition
prep. at some point within a period of time. You use it to say that something happened while another event was going on.
prep. throughout the entire course or duration of a period; alternatively, at some point within the limits of a specified time or event.
Examples
“It rained heavily during the night.”
“The students are not allowed to use their mobile phones during the final exam.”
“While the economy struggled during the initial transition period, the subsequent decade saw a remarkable recovery driven by technological innovation and increased foreign investment.”
Examples
simple
“It rained heavily during the night.”
contextual
“The students are not allowed to use their mobile phones during the final exam.”
complex
“While the economy struggled during the initial transition period, the subsequent decade saw a remarkable recovery driven by technological innovation and increased foreign investment.”
Usage
Always followed by a noun or noun phrase; it cannot be followed by a clause with a subject and verb.
Pitfall
during I was sleeping
while I was sleeping
During is a preposition and must be followed by a noun; use 'while' to connect to a clause with a subject and verb.
Confusables
During marks the point in time when an event occurs; for measures the total length of time that event lasts.
RememberDuring = When. For = How long.
During precedes a noun phrase, while while introduces a clause with a subject and a verb.
RememberDuring + Noun; While + Verb.
Etymology
From Middle English during, durynge, durinde, durand, durende, present participle of duren (“to last”), equivalent to dure + -ing. Compare Dutch gedurende (“during”). More at dure.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/during