every waking second

USAGE SUMMARY

"every waking second" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to emphasize how often or intensely something happens, or to refer to the amount of time somebody spends doing something. For example: "I was deeply absorbed in my studies, spending every waking second studying for the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

"We spent every waking second together that we could," Mr. van Hout said.

The New York Times

Every waking second of her day is an agony of hunger, nausea, headaches, dizziness, severe joint pain and obsessive-compulsive thoughts about food.

The New York Times - Magazine

But when the subject is this season's belts, and the speaker is not truly thinking about them every waking second, Mr. Lasdun concurred with Professor Davis's and Ms. McKean's takes.

The New York Times

The story, directed here by Emily Mann, the theater's artistic director, simply forces anyone paying attention to acknowledge the paralyzing fear that simmers within every waking second of human life and the awful fragility of connections.

The New York Times

Mr. Daniels and Ms. Pill make it clear that the Ray and Una of the play's first moments are provisional constructs of personalities, devised to allow maimed souls to function as if life didn't hurt them every waking second.

The New York Times

And this way, not only do we get to perform even when we're not working - which is apparently every waking second - but people get to be near our special energy without incurring a restraining order.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Over the past week, a bunch of 80 African and western musicians have been touring Britain by chartered train, performing nightly shows while spending every spare waking second visiting schools, hospitals and bandstands to play impromptu pop-up gigs (one involved beatboxer, an Ethiopian group with a six-stringed lyre, and the Hebden Bridge Junior Brass Band).

The Guardian - Music

He wakes first every morning, spends about 30 minutes with our daughter, gets ready and leaves to travel through whatever inclement weather we're having, share the subway with other tortured New Yorkers and manage 50 or so people all over the country, all day long.

Huffington Post

In the busy autumn mornings, it is the Dong women who wake first.

The New York Times

The Rx. Every waking hour for the first 24 hours, then every few hours for the next 24: Ice the strain for 15 minutes to reduce swelling.

Huffington Post

14) Practice spending 30 seconds every waking hour focusing on what soothes and calms and strengthens your body, heart and soul.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "every waking second" to emphasize the intensity or relentlessness of an activity, feeling, or thought. This phrase effectively conveys a sense of continuous or near-constant occurrence.

Common error

Avoid using "every waking second" in situations where the continuous nature is not truly significant. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every waking second" functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing the duration and continuity of an action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it highlights how often or intensely something happens.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "every waking second" is a phrase used to emphasize the continuous nature of an activity or thought. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Analysis of its usage reveals that it is commonly found in News & Media, with neutral register. When writing, be sure to reserve this phrase for contexts where you truly want to convey a sense of constant or near-constant occurrence. Consider alternatives like "every single moment" or "constantly" depending on the specific nuance you aim to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every single moment

Emphasizes the continuous nature of time, focusing on each individual moment.

constantly

Adverb that directly describes the continuous nature of an action or state.

at every moment

Focuses on the idea that something happens at each and every instance.

continuously

Similar to 'constantly' but may imply a more unbroken sequence.

all the time

A more general phrase indicating constant occurrence, less emphatic than the original.

incessantly

Suggests a never-ending or relentlessly continuous action.

without a break

Highlights the absence of interruption in an activity or thought.

without ceasing

Formally emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of something.

around the clock

Implies activity happening 24 hours a day, emphasizing continuous operation.

from dawn till dusk

Focuses on a continuous period throughout the day.

FAQs

How can I use "every waking second" in a sentence?

Use "every waking second" to emphasize the constant nature of an activity or thought, like "She spent "every waking second" preparing for the exam".

What are some alternatives to "every waking second"?

You can use alternatives like "every single moment", "all the time", or "constantly" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "each waking second" instead of "every waking second"?

While "each waking second" is grammatically correct, "every waking second" is more common and idiomatic when referring to a continuous period. "Each" tends to emphasize individuality, whereas "every" implies a collective whole.

What does "every waking second" emphasize in a sentence?

"Every waking second" emphasizes the continuous and relentless nature of an activity or thought. It highlights that something occupies someone's attention or time almost entirely.