Wednesday

noun

Wednes·​day ˈwenz-(ˌ)dā How to pronounce Wednesday (audio) -dē How to pronounce Wednesday (audio)
 British also  ˈwe-dᵊnz-
: the fourth day of the week
Wednesdays
ˈwenz-(ˌ)dāz How to pronounce Wednesday (audio) -dēz How to pronounce Wednesday (audio)
 British also  ˈwe-dᵊnz-
adverb

Examples of Wednesday in a Sentence

I had lunch with her last Wednesday. I'll be seeing her again next Wednesday. My birthday falls on a Wednesday this year. Next week I'll arrive on Wednesday and leave on Friday. I will arrive on Wednesday morning.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What this means: The NFL’s new league year opened Wednesday and opened the door for the Bears to finalize several transactions that had been in the works over the last two weeks and widely reported. — Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025 What to watch: The 11-seed SDSU men face the North Carolina Tar Heels a play-in game on Wednesday. — Kate Murphy, Axios, 17 Mar. 2025 The resolution, which will be debated at a city commission meeting Wednesday, also would eliminate about $40,000 in grants provided by Miami Beach to the nonprofit that runs the theater. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025 That all changed last Wednesday, when country fans were treated to a three-song performance from Keen at the long-running Nashville institution and radio show. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Wednesday

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English wōdnesdæg (akin to Old Norse ōthinsdagr Wednesday); akin to Old English Wōden Odin and dæg day

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Wednesday was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing Wednesday

Browse Nearby Words

Wednesday
wee
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Cite this Entry

“Wednesday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Wednesday. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

Wednesday

noun
Wednes·​day ˈwenz-dē How to pronounce Wednesday (audio)
: the fourth day of the week
Etymology

Old English wōdnesdæg, literally, "Woden's day"

Word Origin
Many gods were worshipped by the Germanic people who lived in northern Europe in ancient times. The chief of all the Germanic gods was one who is now usually called Odin. His name in Old English was Woden, and the fourth day of the week was called wōdnesdæg, "day of Woden," or "Woden's day" in his honor. The Old English wōdnesdæg eventually became the Modern English Wednesday.
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