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

But at Brisbane’s Gabba on Thursday, Australia and England will use a ball of another colour. —Matt Roller, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025

After taking a 7-3 lead into halftime, Pittsburgh squandered an opportunity to take the lead in the AFC North after the Ravens lost to the Bengals on Thursday night. —Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025

The letter was submitted on Thursday and publicized on Sunday. —Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 30 Nov. 2025

Another front brings flurries Tuesday night and another push of cold air, with the metro set for its first subzero overnight of the season early Thursday. —Lisa Meadows, CBS News, 30 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.