daily
A1Neutral to Formal (adjective/adverb), Informal (noun, referring to a cleaner).
Definition
Meaning
Happening, done, produced, or appearing every day or every weekday.
Relating to, calculated on, or done for each day; a newspaper published every day except Sunday; a person employed to do domestic cleaning work on a daily basis (British English).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word functions primarily as an adjective ('daily routine') and adverb ('take medicine daily'), and secondarily as a noun ('read the daily'). The noun meaning of 'a daily cleaner' is chiefly British.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a noun, 'daily' is common in UK English for a domestic cleaner who works daily ('We have a daily who comes in Mondays to Fridays'). In US English, 'housekeeper' or 'cleaner' is more typical. The phrase 'daily help' is also UK-specific.
Connotations
In both varieties, the adjectival and adverbial uses are neutral. The noun 'daily' (cleaner) in UK English can be seen as slightly dated or class-marked.
Frequency
Adjective/adverb usage is equally high-frequency in both varieties. The cleaner sense is moderately frequent in UK, very low in US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[daily] + noun (daily grind)verb + [daily] (appears daily)on a [daily] basisVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “daily bread (one's basic livelihood)”
- “daily grind (tedious routine)”
- “daily double (two successes in one day, from horse racing)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to routine operations ('daily sales reports', 'daily stand-up meeting').
Academic
Used in data analysis ('daily measurements'), literary studies ('daily life in Victorian England').
Everyday
Extremely common for routines, habits, and news ('daily walk', 'check the daily forecast').
Technical
In sciences for periodic observations; in journalism for a publication frequency.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He dailies as a freelance journalist while working on his novel.
adverb
British English
- The medication should be taken twice daily.
American English
- I check my email several times daily.
adjective
British English
- The daily commute into London is exhausting.
American English
- Her daily workout routine is very intense.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I drink milk daily.
- She reads a daily newspaper.
- My daily routine includes going to the gym.
- The doctor advised taking the pills daily with food.
- Fluctuations in daily energy consumption are closely monitored.
- The daily grind of office work was starting to wear him down.
- The artist's daily sketches, though never intended for exhibition, reveal his technical process.
- Analysing daily volatility is crucial for short-term traders.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'day' hidden inside 'daily' – it happens every DAY.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CYCLE (daily events are points on a repeating cycle).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'daily' as a direct translation for 'дневной' (which is 'daytime' or 'diurnal'). 'Daily' refers to frequency ('каждый день'), not time of day. Confusing 'daily newspaper' with 'дневная газета' (a newspaper published in the daytime).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'daily' instead of 'day' ('I go there five times daily' is correct but very emphatic; 'five times a day' is more natural). Overusing 'on a daily basis' where 'daily' or 'every day' would suffice (e.g., 'We meet on a daily basis' vs. 'We meet daily').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the noun 'daily' MOST likely to refer to a person?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, primarily in two ways: 1) a newspaper published every weekday (common everywhere), e.g., 'I read the daily on the train.' 2) (Chiefly UK) a domestic cleaner who works each day, e.g., 'Our daily comes on Tuesdays.'
Not necessarily. 'Daily' and 'every day' are often more concise and natural. 'On a daily basis' is slightly more formal and can be useful for emphasis or variation, but it can sound wordy in simple contexts.
'Daily' refers to frequency (happening every day). 'Everyday' (one word) is an adjective meaning 'ordinary' or 'commonplace' (e.g., 'everyday problems'). 'Every day' (two words) means 'each day' and is synonymous with the adverb 'daily'.
It is pronounced /ˈdeɪli/ (DAY-lee) in both British and American English. The 'ai' makes the long 'a' sound as in 'day'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Routine
A1 · 50 words · Words for describing your everyday activities and schedule.