weekend

weekend — noun

1. the time from Friday evening to late Sunday night, or from Saturday to Sunday, w

1.nounA1
Definition

the time from Friday evening to late Sunday night, or from Saturday to Sunday, when most people do not have to go to work or school

Example

Mira and her family drove to the lake for the weekend.

for the weekend — purpose phrase

The library is open all weekend from nine in the morning until five.

all weekend — duration of opening

Common collocations
  • long weekend
  • over the weekend
  • all weekend
  • during the weekend
  • for the weekend
Synonyms
  • days off

    more general — can refer to any non-working days, not specifically Saturday and Sunday

Antonyms
  • weekday

    any day from Monday to Friday when most people work or go to school

  • working week

    the five days from Monday to Friday considered as a block

Usage Note

In British English, speakers often say 'at the weekend' (e.g. 'I will see you at the weekend'). In American English, 'on the weekend' is more common (e.g. 'I will see you on the weekend'). Both forms are understood internationally.

Common Mistakes

I will go to Taipei in the weekend.
I will go to Taipei on the weekend.
Use 'on' (American) or 'at' (British) with 'the weekend', not 'in'.
I have three exams this weekend.' (meaning this week)
I have three exams this week.
'weekend' is only Saturday and Sunday; the whole Monday-to-Friday period is 'the week'.

2. on the Saturday or Sunday that comes next or that is being talked about — used a

2.nounA1
Definition

on the Saturday or Sunday that comes next or that is being talked about — used as a time word in a sentence

Example

Isabela asked her friend what they were doing this weekend.

this weekend — asking about plans

The supermarket on Oak Street will be closed this weekend for repairs.

Common collocations
  • this weekend
  • next weekend
  • last weekend

Usage Note

This sense functions like a time adverb — it does not need a preposition ('I will see you this weekend', NOT 'I will see you on this weekend'). The same structure is used whether the weekend is coming ('this coming weekend') or was just mentioned in a story.

Common Mistakes

I will go on this weekend.
I will go this weekend.
'this weekend' is already an adverbial time expression and does not need 'on'.

3. every Saturday and Sunday or most Saturdays and Sundays, as a regular habit or r

3.nounA2
Definition

every Saturday and Sunday or most Saturdays and Sundays, as a regular habit or routine

Example

Omar works weekends at a small restaurant in the city centre.

works weekends — regular habit

Mira and her dog go hiking most weekends when the weather is good.

Common collocations
  • on weekends
  • at weekends
  • most weekends
  • work weekends
Antonyms
  • on weekdays

    on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday

Usage Note

In American English, 'on weekends' is the standard form. In British English, 'at weekends' is also common. Dropping the preposition entirely ('I work weekends') is widely accepted in informal speech in both varieties.

4. a short holiday or social visit that lasts from Friday to Sunday, or from Saturd

4.nounB1
Definition

a short holiday or social visit that lasts from Friday to Sunday, or from Saturday to Sunday

Example

Gita planned a quiet weekend in the hills with her cousins.

a weekend in [place] — destination structure

Charlotte and her roommates went on a weekend trip to the seaside town.

Common collocations
  • a weekend in
  • a weekend at
  • a weekend by
  • romantic weekend
  • long weekend
Synonyms
  • short break

    a brief holiday of a few days; more common in British English

  • getaway

    informal — a short trip for pleasure, often implying escape from routine

  • mini-break

    informal — a very short holiday of one or two nights

Idioms

long weekend

idiom

a weekend that includes an extra day off, making at least three free days in a row

Trang and her family took a long weekend to visit her uncle in the countryside.

Many people plan a long weekend around the public holiday on Monday.

dirty weekend

idiom

a weekend that two lovers spend away from home together — informal and slightly old-fashioned

The tabloid claimed the politician was on a dirty weekend in the mountains.

weekend — verb

weekend — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Weekend' refers specifically to Saturday and Sunday, the two days when most workers and students are free. 'Days off' is broader — it can mean any non-working days, including mid-week rest days or personal leave. 'Break' suggests a short rest period that could be as brief as an hour or as long as a week, but often implies a pause from routine rather than a fixed calendar period. 'Holiday' (British) or 'vacation' (American) is a longer, planned period away from work, typically lasting several days or weeks. For example: 'I look forward to the weekend every Friday' (fixed weekly rest), but 'I need a break from work' (any rest) and 'We booked a holiday in Thailand' (longer planned trip).

weekend ↗days offbreak ↗holiday ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • weekend trip
  • weekend job
  • weekend getaway
  • weekend plans
  • long weekend
  • weekend warrior

Adverbs

  • last weekend
  • next weekend
  • this weekend
  • all weekend
  • over the weekend

Phrases

  • at the weekend
  • on the weekend
  • on weekends
  • over the weekend
  • for the weekend

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in English by combining 'week' (a seven-day period, from Old English 'wice') and 'end' (the final part, from Old English 'ende'). The word began to appear in the mid-1800s, referring to the end of the working and school week that starts on Monday. Before the industrial era, many workers had a half-day on Saturday rather than a full two-day break. The modern two-day weekend became widespread in the twentieth century.