week

noun

ˈwēk How to pronounce week (audio)
1
a
: any of a series of 7-day cycles used in various calendars
especially : a 7-day cycle beginning on Sunday and ending on Saturday
b(1)
: a week beginning with a specified day or containing a specified holiday
the week of the 18th
(2)
: a week appointed for public recognition of some cause
2
a
: any seven consecutive days
b
: a series of regular working, business, or school days during each 7-day period
3
British : a time seven days before or after a specified day
last Sunday week

Examples of week in a Sentence

the last week of the month I can meet you sometime next week. The menu changes each week. You can never be sure what will happen from one week to the next.
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.
Per The Numbers, the prequel to the live-action version of The Lion King earned $35.4 million in its opening weekend Dec. 20-22, 2024, yet managed to gain enough momentum in subsequent weeks. — Tim Lammers, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 Several weeks later, on Aug. 21, Jones allegedly terminated Abel, took her phone, and marched her out of the Jonesworks offices in Los Angeles. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025 On Thursday, current team owners announced a deal to sell the club for record price to a buyer few people knew was even interested prior to last week. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 21 Mar. 2025 Thursday’s episode comes after a series of incidents in recent weeks, including near misses, crash landings and accidents, including the fatal collision of an American Airlines plane and a US Army helicopter in Washington, DC. — Aaron Cooper, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for week

Word History

Etymology

Middle English weke, from Old English wicu, wucu; akin to Old High German wehha week and perhaps to Latin vicis change, alternation, Old High German wehsal exchange

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Phrases Containing week

Rhymes for week

See All Rhymes for week

Browse Nearby Words

week
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Cite this Entry

“Week.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/week. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

week

noun
ˈwēk How to pronounce week (audio)
1
a
: seven days in a row
was sick for a week
b
: a period of seven days beginning with Sunday and ending with Saturday
the last week of the month
2
: the working or school days of the calendar week

More from Merriam-Webster on week

Nglish: Translation of week for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about week

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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