Sunday
SUHN-day
Sunday (noun) means the day of the week that follows Saturday, traditionally a day of rest or worship in Christian countries. Example: “We always have a big family lunch on Sunday.”
noun
1
The day of the week that follows Saturday, traditionally a day of rest or worship in Christian countries.
"We always have a big family lunch on Sunday."
"The shops close early on Sundays here."
adj
1
Describes an amateur or occasional doer of something, without much skill.
"He's just a Sunday painter, but he loves it."
How to use Sunday
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe seventh day of the week, associated with rest and (informally) amateurish hobbies.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
Sunday roast
Sunday best
Sunday driver
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Word forms
- Plural
- Sundays
- Third person singular
- Sundays
- Past tense
- Sundayed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We always have a big family lunch on _____.
Etymology
From Old English sunnandæġ, literally "day of the sun," a translation of the Latin diēs Sōlis.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Sunday
See all rhymes for Sunday →Frequently asked questions
What does “Sunday” mean?
The word “Sunday” means the day of the week that follows Saturday, traditionally a day of rest or worship in Christian countries. In plain terms, the seventh day of the week, associated with rest and (informally) amateurish hobbies.
How do you pronounce “Sunday”?
“Sunday” is pronounced SUHN-day (/ˈsʌn.deɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Sunday” in a sentence?
Here is “Sunday” used in a sentence: “We always have a big family lunch on Sunday.”
What part of speech is “Sunday”?
Depending on how it is used, “Sunday” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Sunday” come from?
The word “Sunday” comes from Latin. From Old English sunnandæġ, literally "day of the sun," a translation of the Latin diēs Sōlis.
Is “Sunday” a common word?
“Sunday” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “Sunday” have?
“Sunday” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the day of the week that follows Saturday, traditionally a day of rest or worship in Christian countries.
Why is Sunday a day of rest?
In Christian tradition, Sunday marks the day of Jesus's resurrection and became the main day for worship and rest, echoing the Sabbath principle of a weekly break from work. Many countries kept Sunday as a public rest day, closing shops and offices, though this has relaxed in modern times.
Is Sunday the first or last day of the week?
It depends on the system. The international standard (ISO 8601) and most business calendars treat Sunday as the last day of the week, following Saturday. However, traditional and many US calendars place Sunday first. Both are correct within their own conventions.
Why is Sunday named Sunday?
The name comes from Old English "Sunnandæg," meaning "day of the sun," a translation of the Latin "dies Solis." It reflects an ancient tradition of naming days after celestial bodies and gods. So Sunday is literally the "sun's day," just as Monday is the "moon's day."
What is the difference between Saturday and Sunday?
They are the two days of the weekend. Saturday follows Friday and comes first; Sunday follows Saturday. In Christian tradition Sunday carries added significance as a day of worship and rest, whereas Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath. Together they form the standard weekend break from work.
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