day is ending

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "day is ending" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe the time of day when daylight is fading and evening is approaching. Example: "As the sun sets, the day is ending, and the stars begin to twinkle." Alternative expressions include "day is closing" and "day is winding down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The market's message is simple: coal's day is ending.

University of California, Berkeley

"Ay, ay, ay," it ran, "the time is coming, the day is ending well, I have to go now".

The Guardian - Sport

And just when the day is ending and I think I've made it — one day without being covered in sweat, one day without coming home drenched — they switch my train from Track 6 to Track 11. "Anyone sitting here?" I ask the unluckiest passenger on the train, pointing to the empty seat beside her.

The New York Times

When Awful Ogre's day is ending, he curls up with his cactus and vulture, lays his one-eyed head on a pillow of stone and dutifully says good night to all he loves: silent vipers, tiny parasites, furtive spiders, loathsome vermin, lowly rodents, nasty maggots and savage raptors.

The New York Times - Books

The day is ending.

Forbes

A physician's ability to add additional patients to their already burdened day is ending.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

His wonderful opening day was ending late.

The Guardian - Sport

The day was ending, and the green of twilight was intensifying.

The New York Times - Magazine

Around midnight Saturday, after Lennox Lewis had turned Mike Tyson into an entity as bubbly as old King Tut, it seemed unfair that my long viewing day was ending.

The New York Times - Sports

I didn't stay down there too long the day was ending and the pool was getting cold but I'd like to go back soon.

MIT Technology Review

It began as the day was ending, the sun bleeding out beyond a darkening vista of trees, above a blue-black outline of low mountains.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine the phrase with descriptive adjectives to set a specific mood in narrative writing, such as "the long, weary day is ending".

Common error

Avoid omitting the definite article "the" in standard prose unless you are writing headlines or poetry. While "day is ending" is understood, "the day is ending" is the grammatically complete version for general time descriptions. Additionally, do not confuse this with "day has ended", which indicates the process is already complete.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "day is ending" functions as a complete clause consisting of a noun subject and a verb in the present continuous tense. According to Ludwig AI, it typically describes a transition in progress, serving as the temporal setting for a narrative or an observation about a trend.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "day is ending" is a versatile and grammatically correct English phrase used to denote the conclusion of a period. Whether used literally to describe the transition to night or metaphorically to signal the end of an era, its usage is widely accepted across prestigious publications. Ludwig AI reveals that while it is not the most common phrase, it carries a certain gravitas and descriptive power that makes it ideal for journalism and narrative writing. Writers should feel confident using it to add atmospheric detail or to make definitive statements about the decline of trends, ensuring they use the appropriate article "the" for clarity in non-metaphorical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

day is drawing to a close

More formal and idiomatic way to describe the evening transition.

day is winding down

Focuses on the decrease in activity as the day concludes.

daylight is fading

Specifically refers to the literal loss of light.

day is almost over

More informal and common in spoken English.

sun is setting

Focuses on the astronomical event causing the day to end.

evening is approaching

Highlights the arrival of the next phase rather than the end of the current one.

night is falling

More atmospheric and often used in literary contexts.

light is waning

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe the diminishing day.

dusk is nearing

Identifies the specific time period between day and night.

time is running out

Strictly metaphorical, usually used in high-pressure situations.

FAQs

How do I use "day is ending" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the literal sunset, for example: "As the sun dips below the horizon, the day is ending." It also works metaphorically: "The era of manual labor's day is ending due to automation."

What is a more descriptive way to say "day is ending"?

Depending on your context, you might prefer "day is drawing to a close" for a formal tone, or "daylight is fading" for visual description.

Is it "the day is ending" or "day is ending"?

Both are correct, but "the day is ending" is standard for daily time references. "Day is ending" (without the) is often used in headlines, poetry, or after a possessive noun like "summer's day is ending".

What can I say instead of "day is ending" to sound more casual?

In casual conversation, you would more likely say the "day is almost over" or the "day is winding down".