duration

"Duration" is a straightforward word with one core meaning, but it appears in a variety of contexts — from everyday conversation to science and music. It refers to the length of time something lasts.

1nounlength of time

Duration is how long something lasts — from start to finish. Think of it as the 'time distance' between when something begins and when it ends. If a movie starts at 7 PM and ends at 9 PM, its duration is two hours.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

The duration of the flight from London to New York is about seven hours.

Please stay seated for the duration of the performance.

The course has a duration of six weeks.

2nouna period of time (vague or unspecified)

Sometimes 'duration' is used to talk about a period of time without giving an exact length — especially in the phrase 'for the duration'. This often means 'for as long as something continues', without knowing exactly when it will end.

everyday language, formal writing · Modern, widely used

The soldiers were stationed abroad for the duration of the war.

We will be working from home for the duration of the project.

She decided to stay quiet for the duration of the argument.

3nounlength of a musical note

In music, duration refers to how long a note is held or played. A whole note has a longer duration than a quarter note, for example. It is one of the basic building blocks of rhythm.

music · Modern, widely used

The teacher asked the students to clap notes of different durations.

In music theory, duration tells you how long each note should last.

A half note has twice the duration of a quarter note.