long weekend: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal
Quick answer
What does “long weekend” mean?
A weekend, typically Saturday and Sunday, extended by one or more additional contiguous days off, often a Friday or Monday.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A weekend, typically Saturday and Sunday, extended by one or more additional contiguous days off, often a Friday or Monday.
Any period where a break is taken by bridging a public holiday with the adjacent weekend, allowing for a continuous period of leisure or travel longer than the standard two days.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. In the US, "long weekend" is extremely common. In the UK, "bank holiday weekend" is a frequent synonym when a public holiday is involved.
Connotations
Both carry positive connotations of leisure, travel, or relaxation. Slightly more associated with domestic travel or DIY projects in UK contexts, and with road trips or family gatherings in US contexts.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, especially in conversational and media contexts related to planning, travel, and weather.
Grammar
How to Use “long weekend” in a Sentence
[Verb] a long weekend[Adjective] long weekendlong weekend [Prepositional Phrase: in/at/away]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “long weekend” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We're planning to long-weekend in Cornwall.
American English
- They decided to long-weekend at the lake house.
adjective
British English
- The long-weekend traffic on the M5 was horrendous.
American English
- They made long-weekend plans months in advance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The office will be closed for the long weekend."
Academic
"The library has reduced hours over the long weekend."
Everyday
"We're going to the coast for the long weekend."
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “long weekend”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “long weekend”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “long weekend”
- Using it for any weekend that feels subjectively long ('That was a long weekend!'). It specifically requires an extra official day off. Incorrect preposition: 'on the long weekend' (usually 'over' or 'for').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is most commonly three days (Sat-Mon or Fri-Sun), but any extension beyond two days (e.g., four days from Fri-Mon) qualifies.
Yes, if that personal day is contiguous with the weekend, creating an unbroken stretch of days off, it is correctly called a long weekend.
It is primarily informal. In formal schedules or announcements, phrases like 'extended weekend', 'three-day weekend', or specifying the dates are preferred.
A 'long weekend' focuses on the time structure (days off). A 'mini-break' focuses on the activity (a short holiday/trip). A mini-break can happen on a long weekend.
A weekend, typically Saturday and Sunday, extended by one or more additional contiguous days off, often a Friday or Monday.
Long weekend: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɒŋ wiːkˈend/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɔːŋ ˈwiːk.end/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To make a long weekend of it (to extend a break intentionally)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LONG WEEKEND: Like a regular weekend, but STRETCHED LONGER, giving you more time.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE THAT CAN BE EXTENDED/STRETCHED.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is MOST LIKELY to be called a 'long weekend'?