weekend
wee-KEHND
Weekend (noun) means the break at the end of the working week, typically Saturday and Sunday. Example: “We're planning a trip to the coast this weekend.”
noun
1
The break at the end of the working week, typically Saturday and Sunday.
"We're planning a trip to the coast this weekend."
"He spent the whole weekend catching up on sleep."
"I love a lazy weekend with pancakes and no alarm clock."
verb
1
To spend a weekend somewhere.
"Many city workers weekend by the sea during the summer."
"We weekended at a friend's cottage and went walking every morning."
"They like to weekend in the countryside when they can."
How to use weekend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe two days off at the end of the week, usually Saturday and Sunday.
Common pairings
long weekend
weekend getaway
over the weekend
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Word forms
- Plural
- weekends
- Third person singular
- weekends
- Past tense
- weekended
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We're planning a trip to the coast this _____.
Etymology
A compound of week and end, originally a Northern English regional term that spread into general use in the late 19th century.
Class of 1800
weekend joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →
Saturday and Sunday
days off
Frequently asked questions
What does “weekend” mean?
The word “weekend” means the break at the end of the working week, typically Saturday and Sunday. In plain terms, the two days off at the end of the week, usually Saturday and Sunday.
How do you pronounce “weekend”?
“Weekend” is pronounced wee-KEHND (/ˈwiˌkɛnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “weekend” in a sentence?
Here is “weekend” used in a sentence: “We're planning a trip to the coast this weekend.”
What part of speech is “weekend”?
Depending on how it is used, “weekend” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “weekend” come from?
The word “weekend” dates back to around 1800. A compound of week and end, originally a Northern English regional term that spread into general use in the late 19th century.
Is “weekend” a common word?
“Weekend” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “weekend” have?
“Weekend” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the break at the end of the working week, typically Saturday and Sunday.
What days are the weekend?
In most of the world the weekend is Saturday and Sunday, the two days off at the end of the working week. It is not universal, though: in many Middle Eastern countries the weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, reflecting local working patterns and religious observance.
What is the difference between a weekend and a weekday?
Weekdays are the working days of the week — usually Monday to Friday — when most people go to work or school. The weekend is the break that follows, typically Saturday and Sunday, set aside for rest and leisure. Together they make up the seven-day week.
Why is the weekend Saturday and Sunday?
The two-day weekend grew out of religious rest days — Sunday for Christians and Saturday for Jews — and was cemented by twentieth-century labour reforms. Employers found that giving workers both days improved productivity and morale, and the Saturday–Sunday break gradually became the standard across much of the world.
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