Explanation at your level:
Daily means every day. You can use it to talk about your life. For example, 'I eat breakfast daily.' It is a very useful word for beginners to learn early on.
When you do something daily, you do it every 24 hours. It is common to say 'on a daily basis' to sound more natural. Use it to describe your school or work habits.
The word daily is versatile. It can be an adverb or an adjective. For instance, 'I exercise daily' (adverb) or 'This is my daily routine' (adjective). It helps add precision to your descriptions of time.
Using daily allows for nuance in professional and casual settings. You might describe a 'daily occurrence' to sound more formal or 'the daily grind' to express mild frustration with routine. It is a staple of clear communication.
In advanced English, daily is often used to emphasize the relentless nature of a task or event. It can appear in academic writing to denote frequency in longitudinal studies. Understanding its rhythmic quality helps in both formal prose and creative writing.
At the mastery level, daily carries connotations of discipline and inevitability. It is found in literary contexts to evoke the passage of time. Its etymological connection to the cycles of the sun gives it a subtle, almost poetic weight when used in structured, complex sentences.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means every day
- Used as adverb or adjective
- Common in daily life
- No plural form
Hey there! Let's talk about the word daily. It is a super handy adverb that tells us how often something happens. When you see this word, just think of a calendar where every single box has a checkmark in it.
We use daily to describe routines or regular occurrences. Whether it is a daily habit like drinking coffee or a daily task like checking your email, this word helps people understand your schedule. It is simple, clear, and very common in everyday conversation.
The word daily has deep roots in Old English. It comes from the word dæg, which is the ancestor of our modern word 'day.' Over centuries, it evolved from dæglice, meaning 'in the manner of a day' or 'by the day.'
It is fascinating how this word has stayed so stable in its meaning. While many words change their definitions over time, daily has remained a reliable way to express the passage of a single day. It shares a family tree with German täglich and Dutch dagelijks, showing how connected these languages are.
You can use daily in many different settings. It works perfectly in casual chats, like saying, 'I walk my dog daily.' It also fits right into professional environments, such as 'We hold a daily meeting to track our progress.'
Common collocations include daily routine, daily basis, and daily life. Using these phrases makes your English sound much more natural and fluent. Remember, it usually goes after the verb or at the end of the sentence.
While daily is a straightforward word, it appears in several expressions.
- On a daily basis: Used to emphasize regularity.
- Day in, day out: Meaning every single day without fail.
- Daily grind: Refers to the repetitive nature of work.
- Daily bread: A classic phrase referring to one's basic needs.
- Daily dose: Often used humorously for something you need regularly.
Pronounced /ˈdeɪli/, it rhymes with 'gaily' and 'Bailey.' The stress is always on the first syllable. It is an adverb, so it modifies verbs, but it can also function as an adjective (e.g., 'a daily newspaper').
You don't need to worry about plural forms or articles since it is an adverb. It is a very stable word that doesn't change based on the subject. Just place it carefully in your sentence to ensure your meaning is clear!
Fun Fact
It evolved from the Old English 'dæglice'.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'day' sound followed by 'lee'.
Similar to UK, very clear 'd' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing as 'die-lee'
- Stressing the second syllable
- Adding an extra 'ly' suffix
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adverbs of frequency
I always run.
Adjective vs Adverb
Daily life vs I run daily.
Sentence structure
S+V+O
Examples by Level
I go to school daily.
daily = every day
Adverb placement
She drinks water daily.
daily = every day
Third person singular
They play daily.
daily = every day
Simple present
I read daily.
daily = every day
Habitual action
He runs daily.
daily = every day
Adverb
We talk daily.
daily = every day
Frequency
Cats sleep daily.
daily = every day
General truth
I cook daily.
daily = every day
Daily routine
I check my emails daily.
He takes his medicine daily.
The shop is open daily.
We practice English daily.
She updates her blog daily.
They visit the park daily.
I meditate daily.
The bus runs daily.
The manager reviews reports on a daily basis.
Living in the city brings daily challenges.
She maintains a strict daily schedule.
The newspaper is published daily.
We face daily traffic on the commute.
His daily routine is quite predictable.
They provide daily updates to the team.
I try to learn a new word daily.
The daily grind can be exhausting for some.
She is committed to her daily exercise regimen.
The daily fluctuations in the market are concerning.
He keeps a daily journal of his travels.
The daily intake of vitamins is recommended.
We are seeing daily improvements in the project.
The daily news cycle is very fast.
They have a daily ritual of drinking tea.
The daily cadence of life in the village is peaceful.
She observed the daily rhythms of the forest.
The project requires a daily commitment of two hours.
His daily observations were later compiled into a book.
The daily barrage of information is overwhelming.
We analyzed the daily trends over the last month.
The daily toll of the war was immense.
She found comfort in the daily repetition of her tasks.
The daily ebb and flow of the tide is mesmerizing.
He was a prisoner of his own daily habits.
The daily liturgy provided structure to their lives.
Her daily correspondence was filled with wit.
The daily grind was merely a facade for his ambition.
They documented the daily minutiae of the expedition.
The daily accumulation of data revealed a pattern.
His daily existence was defined by solitude.
Synonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"day in, day out"
Every single day.
He works hard, day in, day out.
casual"daily bread"
Basic necessities.
He earns his daily bread.
formal"daily grind"
Repetitive work.
I need a break from the daily grind.
casual"day after day"
Repeatedly over time.
She waited for him day after day.
neutral"call it a day"
Stop working.
Let's call it a day.
casual"make my day"
Make me happy.
That news really made my day.
casualEasily Confused
Spelling mistake
Not a word
Use daily.
Means daily
Scientific
Diurnal animals.
Frequency
24 hours vs 7 days
Daily vs weekly reports.
Same meaning
Adverb phrase
I do it every day.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + verb + daily
I run daily.
Daily + noun
The daily news is here.
On a daily basis
I check it on a daily basis.
Daily + adj + noun
Daily intense exercise is good.
It is a daily occurrence
It is a daily occurrence here.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
10/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Daily is already an adverb.
Redundant phrase.
No preposition needed.
Usually adverb, not noun.
Grammar error.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a calendar on your wall.
Native Speakers
Use it to describe habits.
Cultural Insight
Newspapers often use this.
Grammar Shortcut
No 'ly' suffix needed.
Say It Right
Rhymes with gaily.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't add -ly.
Did You Know?
Roots in Old English.
Study Smart
Use it in your journal.
Context
Business meetings.
Placement
After the verb.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Day + Ly (Like a day)
Visual Association
A calendar with every day marked.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 things you do daily.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: By the day
Cultural Context
None.
Used heavily in business and personal life.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Work
- daily meeting
- daily tasks
- daily report
Health
- daily exercise
- daily diet
- daily medicine
News
- daily paper
- daily news
- daily update
Routine
- daily habit
- daily schedule
- daily life
Conversation Starters
"What is one thing you do daily?"
"Do you have a daily routine?"
"Is your daily life busy?"
"What daily habit would you like to start?"
"Do you read the daily news?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your daily routine.
What is a daily task you enjoy?
How has your daily life changed?
What is one daily goal for tomorrow?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it can be.
No, that is incorrect.
Rarely or occasionally.
No, every 24 hours.
It is neutral.
Yes, 'Daily, I walk...'
Extremely common.
No.
Test Yourself
I brush my teeth ___.
Daily means every day.
What does daily mean?
Daily means every 24 hours.
Daily can be an adjective.
Yes, e.g., a daily newspaper.
Word
Meaning
Matching frequency words.
Subject + Verb + Adverb.
Score: /5
Summary
Daily is your go-to word for anything that happens every single day.
- Means every day
- Used as adverb or adjective
- Common in daily life
- No plural form
Memory Palace
Imagine a calendar on your wall.
Native Speakers
Use it to describe habits.
Cultural Insight
Newspapers often use this.
Grammar Shortcut
No 'ly' suffix needed.
Example
She speaks daily.
Related Content
Learn it in Context
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
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A2A unit of time that is equal to sixty seconds. It is used to measure short periods of time or to describe a specific point within an hour.
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A1Tuesday is the third day of the week, positioned between Monday and Wednesday. In most Western cultures and business environments, it is regarded as the second day of the standard work week.
antactate
C1Describing a condition, action, or state that occurs or is required prior to a primary event or process. It is frequently used in technical or academic contexts to denote necessary preparatory measures or antecedent conditions.
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A1April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, following March and preceding May. It has 30 days and is typically associated with the arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere.
period
B2A length or portion of time that is defined by specific events, characteristics, or conditions. It can also refer to one of the divisions of a school day or a punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence.
lifetime
A1A lifetime is the entire period of time that a person is alive. It can also refer to the length of time that an object, like a machine, works correctly.
hours
B1A unit of time equal to 60 minutes or one twenty-fourth of a day. It is also commonly used to refer to a specific period or schedule allocated for work, business, or a particular activity.
punctual
A1Being on time and not late. It describes a person who arrives or an action that happens at the exact scheduled time.
future
A1The future refers to the period of time that will happen after the present moment. It describes events, situations, and possibilities that have not yet occurred.
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A1A century is a period of 100 years. It is a common unit of time used to group historical events and long durations.
