sunday
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.the day that comes after Saturday and before Monday.
n.the day of the week following Saturday and preceding Monday, traditionally observed as a day of rest or worship in many cultures.
Simple“We usually go for a long walk in the park on Sunday morning.”
In context“Most shops in the city centre operate on reduced hours on Sunday, reflecting the traditional status of the day as a period of rest.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
adv.happening on the most recent or the next Sunday.
adv.used to indicate that an event occurs on Sunday; common in North American English without the preposition 'on'.
Simple“The team plays Sunday, so we need to buy tickets today.”
In context“The gallery is scheduled to open Sunday, provided the final installations are completed by the Saturday evening deadline.”
UsageIn American English, the day name can function as an adverb without a preposition.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describes someone who only does an activity occasionally and is not very good at it.
adj.attributive use describing a person who engages in an activity only occasionally or as a hobbyist, often implying a lack of professional skill.
Simple“He is just a Sunday driver who moves very slowly and annoys other people.”
In context“The professional cyclists were frustrated by the Sunday riders who blocked the narrow mountain paths during the weekend race.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describes your best clothes or items, usually kept for special occasions.
adj.attributive use referring to one's finest clothing or possessions, historically those reserved for church attendance.
Simple“She put on her Sunday best for the family wedding.”
In context“The children were dressed in their Sunday clothes, looking unusually tidy for the formal portrait session.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to spend your Sunday in a specific place or with specific people.
v.to pass the duration of a Sunday at a particular location or in the company of specific individuals.
Simple“We decided to Sunday at the coast to enjoy the fresh sea air.”
In context“The family has a long-standing tradition of Sundaying at their country estate whenever the weather permits during the summer months.”
From Middle English Sonday, from Old English sunnandæġ, from Proto-West Germanic *Sunnōn dag (literally “day of the Sun”), equivalent to sun + day, as a calque (interpretātiō germānica) of Latin diēs Sōlis; declared the "venerable day of the sun" by Roman Emperor Constantine on March 7, 321 C.E. Compare Saterland Frisian Sundai (“Sunday”), German Low German Sünndag, Dutch zondag, West Frisian snein, German Sonntag, Danish søndag.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.