• During

    Pronunciation

    • RP IPA: /ˈdjʊəɹɪŋ/
    • GenAm IPA: /ˈdʊəɹɪŋ/, /ˈdʒʊəɹɪŋ/
    • Rhymes: -ÊŠÉ™rɪŋ
    • Hyphenation: dur + ing

    Origin

    From Middle English during, durynge, durinde, durand, durende, present participle of Middle English duren ("to last"), from Old French durer, from Latin durare. Equivalent to dure + -ing. More at dure.

    Full definition of during

    Preposition

    1. For all of a given time interval.
      I lived with my parents during the 1970s.
      The shop was one of the few able to stay open during the war.
      • 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. HammondDuring the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant...
      • 2013, Katrina G. Claw, Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm, Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.
    2. At any time or period within a given time interval.
      I lived with my parents at several points during the 1980s.
      Many of the best examples were produced during the Restoration.
      • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 4, I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite.

    Verb

    1. Present participle of dure
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