at the weekend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'at the weekend' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a weekend day, which usually means Saturday or Sunday. For example: "I always go to the beach at the weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We have a massive game at the weekend.

BBC

"I sleep at the weekend".

The Guardian - Opinion

I was in Adelaide at the weekend.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Booking is strongly advised at the weekend.

The Guardian - Travel

She fainted during negotiations at the weekend.

Independent

We wish Dwain well at the weekend".

Independent

Two other ministers visited at the weekend.

The Economist

You should come out at the weekend.

The New Yorker

Clegg said it again at the weekend.

The Guardian

Ditto at the weekend.

The Guardian

Well, was at the weekend.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at the weekend", ensure it clearly refers to Saturday and Sunday as a block of time. This phrase is suitable for describing activities or events that occur during this period.

Common error

Avoid using "at the weekend" when referring to a specific day of the week (e.g. planning something for a Friday). Use "on Friday" instead to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the weekend" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an action or event occurs. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used. It modifies verbs by indicating the temporal context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at the weekend" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the period encompassing Saturday and Sunday. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, it serves as an adverbial phrase indicating when events occur. While "on the weekend" is a similar alternative, "at the weekend" is more common in British English. When writing, remember that "at the weekend" refers to the entire block of time, not a specific day. It has a neutral formality and is often used to describe activities or events that occur during this period.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the weekend

Changes the preposition used while retaining the same temporal reference.

over the weekend

Uses "over" instead of "at" to denote the time span of the weekend.

during the weekend

Replaces "at" with "during" to indicate a period of time within the weekend.

this weekend

Specifies the upcoming weekend, providing a more immediate timeframe.

next weekend

Indicates the weekend following the current one, specifying a future timeframe.

weekends

Uses plural form as a general phrase of habitually doing something on weekends.

on Saturdays and Sundays

Replaces the general term with the specific days that constitute the weekend.

during my days off

Indicates free time, which may or may not coincide with the standard weekend.

in my free time

Suggests leisure activity, not necessarily on weekends.

leisure time

Replaces temporal information to emphasize the activity.

FAQs

How can I use "at the weekend" in a sentence?

You can use "at the weekend" to refer to activities or events happening during Saturday and Sunday. For instance, "I usually relax "at the weekend"".

What's a good alternative to "at the weekend"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "on the weekend", "during the weekend", or simply "weekends".

Is there a difference between "at the weekend" and "on the weekend"?

While both phrases are commonly used and largely interchangeable, ""at the weekend"" is more common in British English, while "on the weekend" is more common in American English. The meaning remains the same.

Can I use "at the weekend" to refer to a specific day?

No, "at the weekend" refers to both Saturday and Sunday collectively. To refer to a specific day, use "on Saturday" or "on Sunday" instead.