daytime
B2Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The period of time during the day when it is light.
Used to describe things that occur, exist, or are intended for use during the daylight hours.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun, sometimes used attributively as an adjective (e.g., daytime television). Contrasts specifically with 'night-time' or 'night'. Implies natural light, not just a time on the clock.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical. Both denote the light part of the 24-hour cycle.
Frequency
Equally common and used in identical contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
in the daytimeduring the daytimeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “burning the candle at both ends (working day and night)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in scheduling, e.g., 'daytime meetings'.
Academic
Used in scientific contexts like biology or meteorology, e.g., 'daytime feeding patterns'.
Everyday
Common for discussing routines, TV, or weather, e.g., 'It's warmer in the daytime.'
Technical
Used in aviation, medicine (e.g., daytime sleepiness), and astronomy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She works a daytime job at the library.
- The programme is on daytime telly.
American English
- He has a daytime job at the factory.
- She watches a lot of daytime TV.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I go to school in the daytime.
- It is light in the daytime.
- The museum is only open during the daytime.
- Daytime temperatures will reach 25 degrees.
- Many nocturnal animals sleep throughout the daytime.
- The contrast between daytime bustle and nighttime quiet is striking.
- The study analysed the impact of daytime napping on cognitive performance.
- His circadian rhythm was disrupted, blurring the distinction between daytime alertness and nocturnal rest.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DAY + TIME = the TIME of DAY when the sun is up.
Conceptual Metaphor
DAYTIME IS ACTIVITY (vs. NIGHTTIME IS REST).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing the Russian 'дневное время' directly when simpler 'day' suffices (e.g., 'during the day').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'day time' as two separate words (should be one word or hyphenated 'day-time' in some older styles).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is NOT a typical collocation with 'daytime'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one word: 'daytime'. The hyphenated form 'day-time' is now rare.
Yes, commonly in an attributive position before a noun (e.g., 'daytime TV', 'daytime job'). It is not used predicatively (you wouldn't say 'The job is daytime').
'Day' can refer to a 24-hour period or the daylight hours. 'Daytime' is more precise, referring specifically to the period of daylight within a 24-hour cycle, contrasting with 'nighttime'.
Both are perfectly correct and interchangeable. 'During the daytime' is slightly more formal.