for several hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for several hours" is correct and is used regularly in written English.
For example, you could say: "I was stuck in traffic for several hours this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Chill for several hours.

The New York Times - Health

For several hours.

The New York Times - Magazine

We talked for several hours.

The New Yorker

For several hours, nothing happened.

The New Yorker

He questioned her for several hours.

The New Yorker

Firms shut for several hours after lunch.

The Economist

Refrigerate for several hours, until set.

The New York Times - Health

They'll remain crispy for several hours.

The New York Times - Health

Afterward, they talked for several hours.

The New Yorker

The site was hampered for several hours.

The New York Times - Tech

We spoke for several hours.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for several hours" when you want to indicate a duration longer than a couple of hours but not long enough to be considered a full day. It provides a sense of the time involved without being overly precise.

Common error

Avoid using "for several hours" when you have a more precise duration. For example, instead of saying "The meeting lasted for several hours, exactly three hours", it's better to say "The meeting lasted for three hours".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for several hours" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to specify the duration of an action or state. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

24%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for several hours" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. When using this phrase, it's important to consider its nuances: it suggests a timeframe longer than "a few hours" but without precise timing. Using more precise language might serve better in cases where exactness matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for multiple hours

Emphasizes that the duration involves more than one hour, similar to "several hours".

for a number of hours

A more formal way of saying "for several hours".

over several hours

Emphasizes the distribution of an event across a span of hours.

during several hours

Highlights activity taking place within a specified number of hours.

for a few hours

Slightly reduces the duration, suggesting a shorter period than "several hours".

throughout several hours

Similar to "over several hours", indicating activity occurring at different points in the timeframe.

lasting several hours

Focuses on the duration as a characteristic of an event.

for approximately several hours

Adds a degree of approximation to the duration.

for a considerable time

Focuses on the length of time being significant rather than specifying the number of hours.

for a prolonged period

Highlights the extended nature of the duration without mentioning specific hours.

FAQs

How can I use "for several hours" in a sentence?

You can use "for several hours" to describe the duration of an event or activity. For example, "I waited "for several hours" at the airport" or "The surgery lasted "for several hours"."

What's the difference between "for several hours" and "for a few hours"?

"For a few hours" typically implies a shorter duration than ""for several hours"". "Several" suggests more than two or three hours, while "a few" suggests closer to two or three.

What can I say instead of "for several hours"?

You can use alternatives like "for multiple hours", "for a prolonged period", or "over several hours depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "during several hours" instead of "for several hours"?

While both can be used, ""for several hours"" is more common when indicating the duration of an event. "During several hours" is suitable when referring to activities or events that happen intermittently within that timeframe.