weekend: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1 (Extremely High Frequency)Neutral to informal. Common in all registers except highly technical/scientific writing.
Quick answer
What does “weekend” mean?
The period from Friday evening through Sunday evening, typically regarded as time for leisure, rest, or recreation away from work or school.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The period from Friday evening through Sunday evening, typically regarded as time for leisure, rest, or recreation away from work or school.
Any brief period of leisure or recreation; the concluding part of something; to spend the weekend (verb usage).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Hyphenation: UK often uses 'week-end' (especially historically/formal), US almost exclusively 'weekend'. Verb usage 'to weekend' is slightly more established in US English.
Connotations
Similar strong cultural connotations of leisure, family time, and freedom from work in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “weekend” in a Sentence
spend + the weekend + V-ing (We spent the weekend hiking)have + a + ADJ + weekend (Have a lovely weekend!)be + away + for the weekend (She's away for the weekend)weekend + at/in + LOCATION (a weekend in Paris)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “weekend” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They often weekend in their cottage in the Cotswolds.
- We're weekending at the coast to escape the city heat.
American English
- They plan to weekend in the Hamptons.
- He frequently weekends at his cabin in the mountains.
adverb
British English
- She travels home weekends. (less common, informal)
- The cafe opens weekends only.
American English
- He works weeknights but is free weekends.
- The market operates weekends from May to October.
adjective
British English
- She packed her weekend bag for a short trip.
- The hotel offers a special weekend rate.
- It's just a weekend case, I don't need much.
American English
- We're looking for a weekend getaway.
- He's a weekend carpenter, but works in finance during the week.
- Check the weekend forecast before we plan the barbecue.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The report will be finalized by close of business Friday for weekend review."
Academic
"The library's weekend hours differ from its weekday schedule."
Everyday
"What are your plans for the weekend?"
Technical
"The system performs automated backups over the weekend."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “weekend”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “weekend”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “weekend”
- Using 'in the weekend' (non-standard).
- Misspelling as 'week end' or 'weakend'.
- Using plural 'weekends' when referring to the general concept (e.g., 'I relax at the weekend' not '...on weekends').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern English, especially American English, it is almost always one word: 'weekend'. The hyphenated form 'week-end' is now considered archaic or overly formal.
Yes, 'to weekend' (meaning to spend or pass a weekend in a particular place) is a standard, though somewhat informal, verb. Example: 'They weekend at their beach house.'
'At the weekend' is the standard British English phrasing. 'On the weekend' is standard American English. Both are correct within their respective varieties.
A 'long weekend' is a weekend that includes an extra day or days, usually because of a public holiday on a Friday or Monday (e.g., a bank holiday weekend).
The period from Friday evening through Sunday evening, typically regarded as time for leisure, rest, or recreation away from work or school.
Weekend is usually neutral to informal. common in all registers except highly technical/scientific writing. in register.
Weekend: in British English it is pronounced /ˌwiːkˈɛnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwiːk.end/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a month of Sundays”
- “make a weekend of it”
- “weekend warrior”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WEEk that ENDs. The 'end of the week' is your free time.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (packed weekend), WEEKEND IS A DESTINATION (getaway for the weekend), LEISURE IS A SUBSTANCE (full of weekend).
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition is most commonly used in British English with 'weekend' when referring to a specific instance?