weekends
Americanadverb
adverb
Usage
What does weekends mean? The word weekends can be used as an adverb meaning every weekend or on or during weekends, as in I work weekends, so I always miss my son’s Saturday games. Weekends is of course also the plural of the noun weekend. The weekend is most commonly considered the period between Friday evening and the end of Sunday. More strictly speaking, the weekend is thought to consist of Saturday and Sunday (often regardless of whether the calendar week is considered to begin on Sunday or Monday). In practical terms, the weekend is typically considered to be the period between the end of the workweek (or school week) and the beginning of a new one—which is why most people consider their weekend to start on Friday night, after work or school. However, when weekends is used as an adverb, it usually means every Saturday and Sunday or on Saturdays and Sundays. For example, a store that’s open weekends is open during at least some hours every Saturday and Sunday. Example: I live on campus during the week but I go home weekends.
Etymology
Origin of weekends
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even as someone who works in food, my first meal of the day tends to veer utilitarian, including on weekends, when I may not eat it until 10 or 11.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
Last summer, Winston Jules spent his weekends taking dates to nice New York City restaurants and bars with $20 cocktails.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Because we work a lot and our days often belong to someone else from early in the morning until pretty late at night, weekends are more laid back.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
She is now studying for a master's degree in paediatric nursing while working weekends in an adult mental health unit.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
As soon as class started on Monday, Heidi’s mom came into the classroom and explained to everyone about taking me home on weekends.
From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
