The word "every" is commonly used with time-related phrases to indicate regular intervals or repeated actions. In these constructions, "every" helps to establish a schedule or frequency, making it clear how often something happens within a given time frame.

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

First of all, "every" can be used with any unit of time, from a second to a century, to indicate that something happens once during that time period. "Every day" means that something happens once in 24 hours, whereas something that happens "every year" happens at least one time during a 365-day period.

Otters have a high metabolism, so they have to eat almost a fifth of their weight every day.

Captions 36-37, America's National Parks: Olympic

 Play Caption

In February, every year, we host a large pond hockey tournament.

Caption 10, Adventures with Kate: Pond Hockey

 Play Caption

We also use "every other" to talk about a predictable frequency that skips time. For example, "every other day" means the event happens one day, then skips the next day, and happens again the day after that. 

I have to go shopping almost every other day.

Caption 36, An Apartment: In Japan

 Play Caption

Always living out of a bag... being in a different location every other week.

Captions 33-34, Kiteboarding Rider Profile: Tom Court

 Play Caption

Sometimes, we also use "every" with "few" or "a couple" and a plural noun. Have a look: 

I just get touched-up every... every few seconds.

Caption 74, Food Diaries: Everything Kylie Jenner Eats in a Day

 Play Caption

It could be every couple hours or every half hour.

Caption 10, Brooklyn Butcher: A & S Italian

 Play Caption

And sometimes, the interval has a number that really needs to be specified. These sentences state that something happens once in a four-day period and once in a six-week period. 

The eaglet can gain more than a pound every four days.

Caption 33, America's National Parks: Olympic

 Play Caption

The windows have to be cleaned once every six weeks.

Caption 14, In London: with Lauren Buckingham Palace

 Play Caption

Further Learning
You will find many examples likes these on Yabla English. For an overview of the difference between "each" and "every," see our related lesson.