Thursday

noun

Thurs·​day ˈthərz-(ˌ)dā  -dē 

: the fifth day of the week

Thursdays

ˈthərz-(ˌ)dāz  -dēz 

adverb

Examples of Thursday in a Sentence

He was late last Thursday.

We went on Thursday and returned on Saturday.

Recent Examples on the Web

Clark was claimed on waivers by the Houston Texans on Thursday. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Nov. 2025

However, Amazon has a more robust overall lineup of live sports thanks to its exclusive NBA on Prime and Thursday Night Football shows. —PC Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

Update on sick kids and lawsuits As of Thursday’s CDC update, the sick child count has risen by eight to 31, all of whom have been hospitalized. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 23 Nov. 2025

At least 33 Palestinians were killed over a 12-hour period Wednesday and Thursday, mostly women and children, health officials said. —Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English thursdæg, from Old Norse thōrsdagr; akin to Old English thunresdæg Thursday, Old Norse Thōrr Thor, Old English thunor thunder — more at thunder entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Thursday

• Holy Thursday
• Maundy Thursday

Rhymes for Thursday

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

Thursday

noun

Thurs·​day ˈthərz-dē 

: the fifth day of the week

Etymology

Old English thursdæg, from early Norse thōrsdagr, literally "day of Thor"

Word Origin

Among the many gods worshiped by the Germanic people who lived in northern Europe in ancient times was one whose name was Thor. Thor was the god of thunder, weather, and crops. In the early Norse language, the fifth day of the week was known as thōrsdagr, literally "day of Thor," in his honor. The Norse name came into Old English as thursdæg, which in time became the Modern English Thursday.