ENGLISH
REFERENCE

heyday

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈheɪˌdeɪ// UK //hˈeɪdeɪ// hey·day Archaic

n. the period of time when someone or something is most successful, popular, or powerful. You use this to talk about the 'golden age' of a person's career or a specific era.

n. the period of greatest success, popularity, or vigour. Often used to describe the peak of a historical era, a career, or a specific technology.


SIMPLE

In its heyday, the city was a major center for trade.

CONTEXTUAL

During the heyday of silent film, actors relied entirely on physical expression to convey emotion.

COMPLEX

The crumbling ruins serve as a stark reminder of the empire's former glory during its 12th-century heyday, when its influence stretched across three continents.

Synonyms
Origin

Late 16th century, from earlier heyda (1520s), as exclamation – compare hey, hei. Sense “period of success, vigor” is a respelling as heyday based on unrelated day (as “period of time”) – compare day in the sun.

Usage

Usually used in the singular, often following the preposition 'in' ('in its heyday').

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