duration
B2Formal to neutral; common in academic, legal, and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
the length of time that something lasts or continues.
In music, the length of time a note is held. In phonetics, the length of time a sound is produced.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used for measurable periods, often with a defined beginning and end. Implies a continuous, uninterrupted span.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Usage patterns are nearly identical.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Slightly more formal than 'length of time'.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the duration of [NOUN PHRASE]for the durationof [ADJECTIVE] durationduration [MODIFIER]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “for the duration (of the war/conflict)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The duration of the loan is five years.
Academic
Researchers measured the duration of REM sleep cycles.
Everyday
We had a power cut, but luckily it was of short duration.
Technical
The oscillator's pulse duration is precisely controlled.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council aims to duration the festival for two full weeks.
- Can we duration the meeting a little longer?
American English
- The software licenses duration for one year.
- We need to duration our efforts to see results.
adverb
British English
- The signal lasted durationally longer than expected.
- The policy was applied durationally, not permanently.
American English
- The effects were measured durationally across the study.
- He committed to the project durationally, not just in spirit.
adjective
British English
- The duration measurement was crucial for the experiment.
- They offered a duration contract with no fixed end date.
American English
- The duration data showed a clear pattern.
- We have a duration estimate for the construction phase.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The film's duration is 90 minutes.
- The duration of the lesson is one hour.
- He will stay in London for the duration of the summer course.
- Please remain seated for the duration of the flight.
- The contract specifies the exact duration of the employment.
- The duration of the symptoms can vary from patient to patient.
- The study analysed the mean duration of unemployment spells across the region.
- The geopolitical crisis is expected to be of considerable duration, impacting markets for years.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of DURATION as 'DURING an ACTION' – it's the time during which an action happens.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (e.g., 'for the duration of the concert').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'дюрация' (a rare, specific financial term). The correct general translation is 'продолжительность'. 'Длительность' is also acceptable, especially for sounds/events.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'during' instead of 'duration' (e.g., 'What was the during of the film?'). Confusing with 'durability' (which is about strength, not time).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST accurate synonym for 'duration' in most contexts?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used for any measurable length of time, from milliseconds to millennia (e.g., 'the brief duration of a flash', 'the duration of an empire').
'Duration' focuses on the length or continuance of a single event. 'Period' can refer to a specific segment or interval of time, often with defined characteristics (e.g., 'the Jurassic period'), and can be used more loosely.
This is grammatically correct but redundant. 'How long did it last?' or simply 'What was its duration?' is more natural and concise.
Yes, it originated in a military context ('for the duration of the war') meaning 'until the end of the conflict.' It is now used more generally to mean 'for the whole time that something lasts.'
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