noun
Very common
days
DAYZ
Days (noun) means a particular, somewhat loosely defined period of time, often used to refer to an era or phase of life. Example: “In her younger days, she traveled across three continents.”
noun
1
A particular, somewhat loosely defined period of time, often used to refer to an era or phase of life.
"In her younger days, she traveled across three continents."
"Those were simpler days, before everyone carried a phone."
"Back in my student days, we lived on toast and tea."
adverb
1
During the daytime, as opposed to at night.
"He works days and studies at night."
"She sleeps days and works nights at the hospital."
"Nurses on the ward work days one week and nights the next."
How to use days
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe plural of "day," often used loosely for a stretch of time or era, or as an adverb meaning "in the daytime."
Common pairings
in his younger days
back in the days
work days
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In her younger _____, she traveled across three continents.
Etymology
From Old English "dagas," the plural of "dæg" ("day"), going back to Proto-Germanic "*dagaz."
Related words
Rhymes for days
See all rhymes for days →Frequently asked questions
What does “days” mean?
The word “days” means a particular, somewhat loosely defined period of time, often used to refer to an era or phase of life. In plain terms, the plural of "day," often used loosely for a stretch of time or era, or as an adverb meaning "in the daytime.".
How do you pronounce “days”?
“Days” is pronounced DAYZ (/ˈdeɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “days” in a sentence?
Here is “days” used in a sentence: “In her younger days, she traveled across three continents.”
What part of speech is “days”?
Depending on how it is used, “days” can be a noun and an adverb.
Where does the word “days” come from?
The word “days” comes from Old English. From Old English "dagas," the plural of "dæg" ("day"), going back to Proto-Germanic "*dagaz.".
Is “days” a common word?
“Days” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “days” have?
“Days” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a particular, somewhat loosely defined period of time, often used to refer to an era or phase of life.
What does 'back in the day' mean?
'Back in the day' refers to an earlier period that someone remembers, usually fondly. It points to a loosely defined stretch of the past — 'in my day', 'the good old days' — rather than a single date. The phrase carries a nostalgic tone, suggesting how things used to be.
What is an example of 'days' used to mean a period?
You might say 'her school days', 'the early days of the company', or 'the days of steam trains'. In each case 'days' marks an era or phase rather than counting individual twenty-four-hour periods. The exact length is vague — it is the character of the time that matters.
Is 'days' in this sense formal or informal?
It is fairly informal and conversational, common in storytelling and reminiscing. Phrases like 'those were the days' or 'in his glory days' suit everyday speech and casual writing. In more formal contexts, precise wording such as 'period', 'era', or an actual date is usually preferred.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing days in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
The intrusion at Hugging Face, which operates as a repository for AI tools and models, began two days later on July 11 and lasted until July 13, said Thomas Wolf, Hugging Face's co-founder.
From
Reuters · Jul 24, 2026
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