midweek: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to informal
Quick answer
What does “midweek” mean?
The middle of the week.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The middle of the week; especially the period from Tuesday to Thursday, or specifically Wednesday.
Any time or event occurring in the middle of a standard Monday-to-Friday workweek; also used as an adjective/adverb to describe something happening during that period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is essentially identical, though British English may show slightly more frequency in formal scheduling contexts.
Connotations
Neutral in both, often associated with routine, work schedules, or lulls in activity between busy weekends.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English in published texts according to some corpora, but the difference is minimal.
Grammar
How to Use “midweek” in a Sentence
[occur/happen/take place] + midweek[schedule/plan] + [something] + for midweekmidweek + [noun (match/game/meal)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “midweek” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Verb use is extremely rare and non-standard)
American English
- (Verb use is extremely rare and non-standard)
adverb
British English
- The parcel should arrive midweek.
- Shall we meet for lunch midweek?
American English
- The store closes early midweek.
- I like to go to the gym midweek.
adjective
British English
- They offer a cheaper midweek rate for the hotel.
- It's just a quiet midweek evening in.
American English
- The team has a tough midweek game on Wednesday.
- We caught a midweek flight to avoid the crowds.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in scheduling: 'Let's move the report deadline to midweek.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing; may appear in timetabling: 'The seminar is scheduled for midweek.'
Everyday
Common in casual planning: 'Fancy a midweek cinema trip?'
Technical
Used in sports scheduling (midweek fixtures), broadcasting, and retail (midweek sales).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “midweek”
- Using 'midweek' as a verb incorrectly (e.g., 'We will midweek the meeting').
- Confusing 'midweek' (the period) with 'Wednesday' (the specific day). 'Midweek' is more flexible.
- Spelling as two words ('mid week') is less standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while Wednesday is the precise midpoint, 'midweek' broadly refers to the period from Tuesday to Thursday, not exclusively Wednesday.
No, 'midweek' is not standard as a verb. Use phrases like 'schedule for midweek' or 'hold midweek' instead.
'Weekday' means any day from Monday to Friday. 'Midweek' specifically refers to the middle portion of those weekdays (typically Tuesday-Thursday).
It is neutral but more common in informal and business scheduling contexts. It is less common in very formal academic or literary writing.
The middle of the week.
Midweek: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪdˈwiːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪdˌwik/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hump day (specifically for Wednesday, implying getting over the 'hump' of the week)”
- “Midweek slump (feeling of low energy midweek)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MIDdle of the WEEK = MIDWEEK. Think of the week as a hill: Monday you climb up, MIDWEEK (Wednesday) you're at the top, then you slide down to the weekend.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS SPACE (the middle point of a linear week); THE WEEK IS A JOURNEY/OBSTACLE (midweek as the 'hump' to get over).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST accurate core meaning of 'midweek' as a noun?