1
: the completion of a cycle, a series of events, or a single action : conclusion
2
a(1)
: an utterance from one full stop to another : sentence
(2)
: a well-proportioned sentence of several clauses
(3)
b
: a musical structure or melodic section usually composed of two or more contrasting or complementary phrases and ending with a cadence
5
a(1)
: a point . used to mark the end (as of a declarative sentence or an abbreviation)
(2)
—used interjectionally to emphasize the finality of the preceding statement
I don't remember—period
b
: a rhythmical unit in Greek verse composed of a series of two or more cola
6
a
: a portion of time determined by some recurring phenomenon
b(1)
: the interval of time required for a cyclic motion or phenomenon to complete a cycle and begin to repeat itself
(2)
: a number k that does not change the value of a periodic function f when added to the independent variable
especially
: the smallest such number
c
: a single cyclic occurrence of menstruation
7
a
: a chronological division : stage
b
: a division of geologic time longer than an epoch and included in an era
c
: a stage of culture having a definable place in time and space
8
a
: one of the divisions of the academic day
b
: one of the divisions of the playing time of a game
: of, relating to, or representing a particular historical period
period furniture
period costumes
Synonyms
Examples of period in a Sentence
Noun
We have had two power failures in a five-month period.
The period between Christmas and New Year's Eve is a very busy one for us.
We are studying our country's colonial period.
Children go through many changes during the period of adolescence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
Look no further than this sequence late in the second period of Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning:
Fourth-line center Steven Lorentz pursued Nick Perbix and managed to keep the puck in the offensive zone.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
During periods of low growth and high rates, the stock market suffers, while the bond market declines in periods of high inflation.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
Because viewers are well aware of the time periods (Martha calls out the years throughout the show’s 105-minute run time), some of the major plot points are highly predictable, taking away the story’s emotional power.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Democratic norms were, in fact, degrading at a quickening pace during this period.
—Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
The program includes a variety of music and nearly 30 instruments from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
About half of Gretna’s cases over a three-year period included contempt charges.
—Lee Zurik, ProPublica, 26 Apr. 2024
Council members that crime has dropped in nearly every category this year, compared with the same period in 2023.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
Peter Marks, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2023
Then the show has to go and become pointlessly circuitous for two episodes, as a combination of interchangeable actors obscured by period facial hair, unplaceable accents and purposeless time jumping make the story hazy for no good reason.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Nov. 2022
The owner decorated the interior in a period Caribbean colonial style, and most of the furniture and decor comes from St. Thomas or the US Virgin Islands; other pieces come from Barbados, as much is traded among the islands of the West Indies.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2022
Whereas early Meshuggah could often register as an endlessly clenching first, their mid-period work started to breathe, projecting a strange kind of serenity amid the constant information overload.
—Hank Shteamer, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2022
The best San Jose chance that stretch came on a mid-period power play, when undrafted rookie Alexander Barbanov had an open net from below the right circle.
—BostonGlobe.com, 24 Oct. 2021
Drawing inspiration from the folklore of Norse seafaring, period-style oil paintings will depict tales of the deep and intricate carvings of tentacles, barnacles, compasses and more will accentuate porthole frames.
—Tim Walters, USA TODAY, 29 July 2021
Popular television series are often period dramas that offer pleasing escapes into quaint hierarchies—Downtown Abbey, Poldark, The Crown, and so on.
—Samuel Earle, The New Republic, 23 Feb. 2021
Season 4 of Netflix's The Crown takes the multi-period historical drama about Queen Elizabeth II's reign over the United Kingdom into the 1980s, including one of the weirdest wars of a violent decade.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 4 Dec. 2020
Noun
Doughty got the Kings on the board 5:32 into the second period, one-timing a cross pass from Quinton Byfield into the net.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
Look no further than this sequence late in the second period of Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning:
Fourth-line center Steven Lorentz pursued Nick Perbix and managed to keep the puck in the offensive zone.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
During periods of low growth and high rates, the stock market suffers, while the bond market declines in periods of high inflation.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
Because viewers are well aware of the time periods (Martha calls out the years throughout the show’s 105-minute run time), some of the major plot points are highly predictable, taking away the story’s emotional power.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Democratic norms were, in fact, degrading at a quickening pace during this period.
—Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
The program includes a variety of music and nearly 30 instruments from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
About half of Gretna’s cases over a three-year period included contempt charges.
—Lee Zurik, ProPublica, 26 Apr. 2024
Council members that crime has dropped in nearly every category this year, compared with the same period in 2023.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
Adjective
At chairs and tables arranged in a loose circle in the Jewish Community Center’s Cafritz Hall, the actors read scenes and sing period German songs, as well as some composed by Broder and Duffy.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2023
Then the show has to go and become pointlessly circuitous for two episodes, as a combination of interchangeable actors obscured by period facial hair, unplaceable accents and purposeless time jumping make the story hazy for no good reason.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Nov. 2022
The owner decorated the interior in a period Caribbean colonial style, and most of the furniture and decor comes from St. Thomas or the US Virgin Islands; other pieces come from Barbados, as much is traded among the islands of the West Indies.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2022
Whereas early Meshuggah could often register as an endlessly clenching first, their mid-period work started to breathe, projecting a strange kind of serenity amid the constant information overload.
—Hank Shteamer, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2022
The best San Jose chance that stretch came on a mid-period power play, when undrafted rookie Alexander Barbanov had an open net from below the right circle.
—BostonGlobe.com, 24 Oct. 2021
Drawing inspiration from the folklore of Norse seafaring, period-style oil paintings will depict tales of the deep and intricate carvings of tentacles, barnacles, compasses and more will accentuate porthole frames.
—Tim Walters, USA TODAY, 29 July 2021
Popular television series are often period dramas that offer pleasing escapes into quaint hierarchies—Downtown Abbey, Poldark, The Crown, and so on.
—Samuel Earle, The New Republic, 23 Feb. 2021
Season 4 of Netflix's The Crown takes the multi-period historical drama about Queen Elizabeth II's reign over the United Kingdom into the 1980s, including one of the weirdest wars of a violent decade.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 4 Dec. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'period.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near period
Cite this Entry
“Period.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/period. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
period
noun
pe·ri·od
ˈpir-ē-əd 
1
a
: a portion of time determined by some recurring phenomenon
b
: a single cyclic occurrence of menstruation
2
: a chronological division
the period of incubation of a disease
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