Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The period of greatest popularity, success, or power; prime.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • An exclamation of cheerfulness, surprise, wonder, etc.
  • noun Highest vigor; full strength; acme.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The time of triumph and exultation; hence, joy, high spirits, frolicsomeness; wildness.
  • interjection An expression of frolic and exultation, and sometimes of wonder.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A period of success, popularity or power; prime.
  • interjection A lively greeting.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the period of greatest prosperity or productivity

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Perhaps alteration of heyda, exclamation of pleasure, probably alteration of Middle English hey, hey.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Late 16th century, from earlier heyda (1520s), as exclamation – compare hey, hei. Sense “period of success, vigor” from 1751, which respelt as heyday based on unrelated day (as “period of time”) – compare day in the sun.

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Examples

  • He was a man no longer young, but in what we call the heyday of life, when our own people are so absorbed in making provision for the future that they may be said not to live in the present at all.

    A Traveler from Altruria: Romance William Dean Howells 1878

  • I refer to the heyday of Pan-Arabism, personified by Egypt's dictator at the time, Gamal Abd Al-Nasser, who came to power in July 1952 as the leader of the "free officers".

    Dr. Josef Olmert: Political Eruptions in the Arab World -- Lessons From Nasser's Day Dr. Josef Olmert 2011

  • While it still love Jet Li, i think his heyday is past and it wouldn't hurt Hollywood to have a look at some of the OTHER HK, Korean, Japanese action stars.

    Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Jet Li to Team Up For The Expendables | /Film 2008

  • During her heyday from the 1920s to the 1930s, unconventional artist Carmen Mondragón was demonized in much the same way as the fire-breathing creature of legends past.

    The Fiery Spirit Of Carmen Mondragon 2005

  • During her heyday from the 1920s to the 1930s, unconventional artist Carmen Mondragón was demonized in much the same way as the fire-breathing creature of legends past.

    The Fiery Spirit Of Carmen Mondragon 2005

  • Fewer people remember that, for a very brief period of time in the white-label heyday of the early 1980s, someone attempted to market generic genre books.

    "No Frills" generic books Brian 2005

  • Fewer people remember that, for a very brief period of time in the white-label heyday of the early 1980s, someone attempted to market generic genre books.

    Archive 2005-08-01 Brian 2005

  • Such a dismissal will no doubt be received the way a brisk slap in the face would for the nucleus that goes back to the 2004 NBA title heyday, but the Pistons have earned the skepticism that follows them into the playoffs this year.

    NBA.com: Fantasy News 2009

  • In the late nineteenth century, feminism, suffrage, political action, self-culture and self-help devolved in the women’s club movement, which enjoyed a heyday from the 1890s through the 1920s.

    Lifting As We Climb: the Women’s Club Movement | Edwardian Promenade 2010

  • "But she's got this behind-the-scenes bawdiness that reminds me of Carol Burnett in her heyday, which is just lovely for a bunch of guys."

    On the Set Farewell to Chuck Part 4: The Nerd Legacy 2012

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