weekend
weekend
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling:
/ˈwiːkˌɛnd/ (General American, Received Pronunciation)
wi - /wiː/ (as in "we")
k - /k/ (as in "kit")
e - /ɛ/ (as in "bed")
nd - /nd/ (as in "send")
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: weekend
Plural: weekends
Verb: (less common, typically in informal or regional use)
Base form: weekend
Third person singular present: weekends
Present participle: weekending
Past tense: weekended
Past participle: weekended
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
The period of Saturday and Sunday, typically considered a time for rest, recreation, or leisure activities, following the working week.
Synonyms: days off, holiday (informal, short), leisure time (general)
Antonyms: weekday, workweek, business week
A specific trip or period of leisure activity that takes place over a Saturday and Sunday.
Synonyms: getaway, mini-break, short trip, excursion
Antonyms: long trip, extended vacation
Verb
To spend the weekend in a particular place or doing a particular activity. (Often used informally)
Synonyms: holiday, vacation (informal), relax, unwind, spend time off
Antonyms: work, labor, toil, busy oneself
Adjective (Attributive Use)
Relating to or for the weekend. (e.g., weekend getaway, weekend plans)
Synonyms: recreational, leisure (attributive)
Antonyms: weekday (attributive), work (attributive)
Examples of Use
Books:
"The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. This includes all forms of media, and especially applies to the weekend." (Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club, 1996)
Newspapers:
"Local businesses are bracing for a surge in tourism this long weekend, with many hotels reporting full bookings." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"Here are five productivity hacks to help you reclaim your weekend and reduce stress." (Forbes.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"Have a great weekend, everyone!" (Common closing phrase on radio shows, podcasts, and TV news broadcasts before a Friday break)
"I can't wait to just chill and play video games all weekend." (Gamer on a Twitch stream)
"The band announced a surprise pop-up concert for next weekend in the city park." (Music news update on Instagram)
General Public Discourse:
"What are your plans for the weekend?"
"We're weekending at my cousin's cabin by the lake."
"It was a really busy weekend; I barely had time to relax."
"This has been the best weekend ever!"
10 Quotes Using Weekend
"I'm a big believer in a little bit of rest and relaxation on the weekend." (Barack Obama)
"The only reason why we ask other people how their weekend was is so we can tell them about our own weekend." (Chuck Palahniuk)
"I love the weekend, but my weekend starts when I'm walking out the door on Friday." (Unknown, widely attributed to people who love their jobs)
"Why wait for the weekend to enjoy life?" (Unknown, a popular motivational saying)
"If you find yourself saying 'Ugh, it's Monday,' every single Monday, then it's time to re-evaluate your weekend choices." (Unknown, widely shared humorous quote)
"Work hard, party hard. Have a great weekend." (Unknown, common motivational or celebratory phrase)
"I believe in a long, prolonged, and enthusiastic love affair with the weekend." (Unknown, popular social media saying)
"My ideal weekend is to spend it with my family." (David Beckham)
"The weekend is a time for fun, relaxation, and doing what you love." (Unknown, positive lifestyle quote)
"Always take a break, even if it's just for the weekend." (Unknown, general advice)
Etymology
The word "weekend" is actually quite straightforward in its origin, being a relatively modern compound word that clearly describes what it is: the "end" of the "week."
It's a combination of two older English words:
"week": which, as we've discussed, comes from Old English "wice" or "wicu," meaning a period of seven days.
"end": which comes from Old English "ende," meaning the conclusion or extremity of something.
The term "weekend" as a single compound word first appeared in written English around the 1870s in Britain. Its original meaning was precisely what it is today: the period from Friday evening to Monday morning, or specifically Saturday and Sunday, when people typically do not work.
This relatively recent coining reflects the societal shift towards a more standardized workweek. Before the Industrial Revolution and the establishment of regular working hours and days off, the concept of a distinct "weekend" as a period of leisure for most people was not as universal. As the modern workweek (Monday to Friday) became common, the need for a specific term to describe the ensuing period of rest emerged, leading to the creation and rapid adoption of "weekend."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Weekend
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "weekend":
Have a good weekend! (common parting greeting)
Long weekend (a weekend extended by a public holiday)
Weekend warrior (someone who is very active in sports or hobbies only on weekends)
The weekend is here! (expression of relief or excitement on Friday)
Weekend getaway (a short trip taken over the weekend)
Weekend vibes (the relaxed, often positive feeling associated with the weekend)
Weekend plans
The dreaded Monday morning after the weekend (a common sentiment)
Weekend escape (similar to getaway)
Every other weekend (referring to a bi-weekly occurrence, typically for custody or rotating shifts)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of weekend from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
