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Meaning & use

throughout the year

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/θruːˈaʊt ðə ˈjɪə/
US/θruˈaʊt ðə ˈjɪr/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    during the whole of a year, from beginning to end without a break.

    Grammar: Used as a time adverbial; it usually goes at the end of a sentence, or at the front for emphasis: "Throughout the year, sales grew."

    Patterns

    • throughout the year
    • something happens throughout the year
    • throughout the whole year

    The museum is open throughout the year, even on public holidays.

    She kept a diary and wrote in it throughout the year.

    Rainfall was above average throughout the year.

  2. phrasefixed phrase

    at many times spread over a year, rather than on just one occasion.

    Grammar: Here the focus is on repeated events across the twelve months, not on one continuous stretch of time.

    Patterns

    • happen throughout the year
    • be held throughout the year

    The library runs free talks throughout the year.

    Farmers in this region plant and harvest throughout the year.

Common combinations

open throughout the year
The park stays open throughout the year.
all throughout the year
He worked hard all throughout the year.
events throughout the year
The town holds events throughout the year.
rise throughout the year
Demand tends to rise throughout the year.
throughout the year round
The garden looks lovely throughout the year round.

Synonyms and how they differ

all year
Shorter and more casual, and it often means the whole year seen as one block rather than as many moments.
year-round
An adjective or adverb used mainly for things that never stop, like a service or a climate; it cannot take "the" after it.
all year long
Close in meaning but more emphatic and a little more informal; it stresses the length of the period.

Opposites

at one point in the yearseasonally

Word family

yearly adjective
Happening once every year or lasting a year.
year-round adjective
Available or happening at all times of the year.
annual adjective
Happening once a year, often used for official or business events.

Commonly confused: throughout the year or all year round? throughout the year or during the year?

throughout the year vs all year round

This means at every time of the year in general, not tied to one particular year, so "all year round" describes a permanent state, while "throughout the year" refers to one specific year.

throughout the year vs during the year

"During the year" only says something happened at some point in the year; "throughout the year" says it kept happening or continued the whole time.

Practice

The shop stays open ______, so tourists can visit at any time.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “throughout the year”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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