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

More rain is expected Wednesday and Thursday as a new frontal system moves in. —Marilyn Heck, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2024

Nickerson had been hiking with her husband and was swept into Havasu Creek around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. —Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 26 Aug. 2024

Nickerson was swept into the Havasu Creek by flooding that hit that area of the park on Thursday, park officials said. —Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2024

Olin brought Obama’s campaign onto Instagram, posting in real time from events, with the odd Throwback Thursday, per the trend of users sharing vintage photos. —Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2024

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

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.