On or At The Weekend 

"On" or "At The Weekend" in the English Grammar

Which One Should Be Used?

Both "on the weekend" and "at the weekend" are correct. "On the weekend" is mostly used in American English, while "at the weekend" is usually used in British English.

Usage Differences

The main difference between "on the weekend" and "at the weekend" is their usage and regional preferences.
In American English, "on the weekend" is more commonly used, while in British English, "at the weekend" is the preferred phrase.

Example

What did you do on the weekend?

What did you do at the weekend?

She did her chores on the weekend.

She did her chores at the weekend.

Meaning

In terms of meaning, both phrases refer to the time period of the weekend, which typically includes Saturday and Sunday.

In the Weekend

When we are referring to events and actions that occurred during a weekend, we cannot use the preposition "in." Avoid using "in the weekend" and instead use "at the weekend" or "on the weekend" depending on the context.

Example

He often exercises in the weekend.

He often exercises on the weekend.

Comments

(8)
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Abraham
Nov 2024
What can we if we say weekend without the?
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Langeek
Nov 2024
You generally can’t say "on weekend" or "at weekend" without "the" because it’s ungrammatical in standard English.
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Peter
Aug 2024
But I also have seen "Over the weekend"? What does that mean? Thanks!
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Langeek
Aug 2024
Thanks for your question! "Over the weekend" means something happened throughout or during the course of the entire weekend (Saturday and Sunday). It’s similar to "during the weekend" but implies activities or events took place at multiple points across both days.
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Silas N
Nov 2023
What about saying last weekend? "He cleaned up his house ( last weekend/on last weekend.) Why does it seem wrong to add on here?
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Langeek
Nov 2023
Thanks for the feedback! You are correct! Using "on" with "last weekend" can sound awkward. "He cleaned up his house last weekend" is more natural, whereas "last weekend" indicates when the action occurred. While "on" is used with specific days, it's less common with broader time periods like "last weekend." Although, in informal language, "on last weekend" might be acceptable.
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Howard Jd
Feb 2023
'at the weekend' is a reference to the end of the week which might mean the end of the working week. 'at the week's end' is a clearer phrase. 'on the weekend' refers to the two days of Saturday and Sunday. 'during the weekend' means the same. 'at' is a place whereas 'on' is a reference to time.
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Langeek
Feb 2023

"At the weekend" is a British English expression, and "on the weekend" is American English. But they both mean the same thing.

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