Thursday

noun

Thurs·​day ˈthərz-(ˌ)dā How to pronounce Thursday (audio) -dē How to pronounce Thursday (audio)
: the fifth day of the week
Thursdays 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
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.
Hitchcock, 69, convicted in the 1976 rape and murder of his step-niece Cynthia Driggers in her bedroom in Orange County, on Thursday was the sixth inmate put to death by the state this year. Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026 Expect occasional showers throughout Thursday, but the day is not looking like a washout. Steven Sosna, CBS News, 4 May 2026 Starting July 1, for most degrees, graduate students will be able to borrow only $20,500 per year, and up to $50,000 per year for professional degrees, such as dentistry and law, according to rules finalized by the Education Department on Thursday. Annie Nova, CNBC, 4 May 2026 Skies may begin to clear Thursday night, with cooler lows in the upper 40s. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for Thursday

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

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thursday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Thursday. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

Thursday

noun
Thurs·​day ˈthərz-dē How to pronounce Thursday (audio)
: 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.
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