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.
According to Entin, a plea hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday. Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025 But just how big will the appetite be for the seventh title? Jurassic World Rebirth, from Universal and Spielberg’s Amblin Productions, opens Wednesday, July 2, in North America on the eve of the long Fourth of July weekend. Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025 The jury will return to continue deliberations at 9 a.m. Wednesday. July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025 See individual award winners ahead of the Fort Worth All-Area Softball’s release on Wednesday, July 2. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 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

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Cite this Entry

“Wednesday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Wednesday. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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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