During is a preposition meaning throughout the duration of a period, or at some point within that period. It always refers to time, not place, and is always followed by a noun or noun phrase.
What Does During Mean?
During comes from the present participle of the now-archaic verb dure, meaning "to last" or "to endure", itself derived from Latin durare (to last, to persist) via Old French durer. The sense "for the duration of" entered English in the 14th century and the word has remained unchanged ever since.
Today during is one of the most common English prepositions. It is used in two closely related ways. The first is to describe something that happens throughout an entire period: "The heating was broken during the winter." The second is to describe something that happens at an unspecified point within a period: "She takes notes during the lecture to help her remember key points." In both cases the time period must be a noun — a named event, season, era, or span of time.
Understanding when to use during versus while or for is one of the most useful preposition distinctions for English learners at A2–B2 level. The key rule is simple: during takes a noun phrase; while takes a clause with a subject and verb; for takes a measured duration.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| She takes notes during the lecture to help her remember key points. | A2 | during + definite noun phrase |
| Many children find it hard to sit still during a long car journey. | A2 | during + indefinite noun phrase |
| The prime minister made several controversial decisions during his first term in office. | B1 | during + possessive noun phrase |
| Temperatures in the region can drop sharply during the night, so pack warm clothes. | B1 | during used for a recurrent natural period |
| The novel explores the social inequalities that persisted during the industrial revolution. | B2 | during + historical era |
| Cellular repair processes that occur during deep sleep are essential for cognitive function. | C1 | during in a relative clause; academic register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| during the day | She prefers to study during the day when the house is quiet. |
| during the night | The alarm went off twice during the night. |
| during the week | I usually go to the gym during the week. |
| during the meeting | Please put your phone on silent during the meeting. |
| during the exam | Talking is strictly forbidden during the exam. |
| during the war | Food was rationed during the war. |
| during the holidays | The museum is open every day during the holidays. |
| during pregnancy | It is advisable to avoid alcohol during pregnancy. |
| during office hours | You can reach us by phone during office hours. |
| during the flight | The seat belt sign remained on during the flight. |
Usage Notes
Key Grammar Points
During vs while: During is a preposition — it must be followed by a noun: "during the film". While is a conjunction — it must be followed by a subject + verb: "while we were watching the film". Mixing them up is the most common learner error.
During vs for: Use for with a measured length of time ("for two hours", "for several weeks"). Use during with a named or identified period ("during the conference", "during summer").
Position in the sentence: During-phrases can appear at the start of a sentence (followed by a comma) or at the end. Both positions are natural: "During the break, we grabbed coffee." / "We grabbed coffee during the break."
Register: During is neutral in register and is equally common in academic writing, journalism, and everyday speech.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I fell asleep during I was watching the film.
I fell asleep while I was watching the film. (during cannot precede a clause)
She studied during three hours.
She studied for three hours. (use for with a measured duration, not during)
We talked during we were eating.
We talked during dinner. / We talked while we were eating. (during needs a noun; while needs a clause)