all day

/ɔːl deɪ/

Meaning

This phrase means during the entire day, from morning until night. It is used to emphasize that an activity or state continues without stopping for the whole day.

Examples

  • I worked at my desk all day yesterday.

    I worked at my desk all day yesterday.

  • It has been raining all day, so we stayed inside.

    It has been raining all day, so we stayed inside.

  • The kids played video games all day.

    The kids played video games all day.

  • She was on the phone all day trying to fix the issue.

    She was on the phone all day trying to fix the issue.

  • My feet hurt because I was standing all day.

    My feet hurt because I was standing all day.

Common Mistakes

  • ✗ I studied all the day.

    ✓ I studied all day.

    In English, we do not usually use the article 'the' with 'all day' when referring to the entire duration of a single day.

  • ✗ She worked during all day.

    ✓ She worked all day.

    The preposition 'during' is unnecessary and incorrect before the phrase 'all day'.

Related Expressions

all nightthe whole dayday in and day out

Practice

  • I was so tired because I painted the house ___.

    💡 The entire day.

    Show answer

    all day

  • Did you stay at home ___?

    💡 From morning to night.

    Show answer

    all day