Definition of 'week'

Word Frequency

week

(wik )

Word forms: weeks

1. countable noun

A week is a period of seven days. Some people consider that a week starts on Monday and ends on Sunday.

I had a letter from my mother last week.

This has been on my mind all week.

2. countable noun

A week is a period of about seven days.

Her mother stayed for another two weeks.

Only 12 weeks ago he underwent major heart transplant surgery.

3. countable noun

Your working week is the hours that you spend at work during a week.

It is not unusual for women to work a 50-hour week.

4. singular noun

The week is the part of the week that does not include Saturday and Sunday.

...the hard work of looking after the children during the week.

5. countable noun

You use week in expressions such as 'a week last Monday,' 'a week ago this Tuesday,' and 'a week ago yesterday' to mean exactly one week before the day that you mention.

"That's the time you weren't well, wasn't it?"—"Yes, that's right, that was a week ago last Monday."

Video: pronunciation of
week

week in American English

(wik )

noun

a period of seven days, esp. one beginning with Sunday and ending with Saturday

a particular or specified week

Easter week, freshman week

the hours or days of work in a seven-day period

to work a 40-hour week

Idioms:

Word origin

ME weke < OE wicu with lengthened & lowered vowel, akin to Ger woche (OHG wohha) < IE *weig-, to bend (see weak): basic sense “period of change”

Word Frequency

week in American English

(wik)

noun

a period of seven successive days, usually understood as beginning with Sunday and ending with Saturday

a period of seven successive days that begins with or includes an indicated day

the week of June 3

Christmas week

3. (often cap)

a period of seven successive days devoted to a particular celebration, honor, cause, etc.

National Book Week

the working days or working portion of the seven-day period; workweek

A 35-hour week is now commonplace

adverb

5. Brit

seven days before or after a specified day

I shall come Tuesday week

He left yesterday week

Word origin

[bef. 900; ME weke, OE wice; c. D week, ON vika week, Goth wikō turn; akin to L vicis (gen.) turn ( see vice3)]

Word Frequency

week in British English

(wiːk )

noun

a period of seven consecutive days, esp one beginning with Sunday

▶ Related adjective: hebdomadal

a period of seven consecutive days beginning from or including a specified day

Easter week

a week from Wednesday

the period of time within a week devoted to work

a week devoted to the celebration of a cause

adverb

5. mainly British

seven days before or after a specified day

I'll visit you Wednesday week

Word origin

Old English wice, wicu, wucu; related to Old Norse vika, Gothic wikō order

Examples of 'week' in a sentence
week

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It looked like it had happened weeks ago.The ease and the elegance came after weeks and weeks of rehearsals.We worked really hard this week in preparing for this game.What a difference a couple of working weeks have made.You will probably have to use it for at least two to three weeks.This will happen a lot over the next few weeks. Measures that could be announced next week include a reduction in air passenger duty.All told, there and back will take the best part of a week.Some owners have more than one share, and people can swap weeks in the properties if they wish.Things were good until a few weeks ago.

Word lists with
week

General vocabulary

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