Meaning & use
couple weeks
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Meanings
phrasefixed phraseinformal
about two weeks; a small number of weeks, usually two or three.
Grammar: Used after 'a': a couple weeks. In formal writing, use 'a couple of weeks'.
Patterns
- a couple weeks
- a couple weeks ago
- in a couple weeks
- for a couple weeks
We're going on vacation in a couple weeks.
I saw her a couple weeks ago at the gym.
The repair should take a couple weeks at most.
phrasefixed phraseinformal
a short period of about two weeks, especially when the exact number is not important.
Grammar: Often used with 'for' or 'in' to talk about a period of time.
Patterns
- for a couple weeks
- stay a couple weeks
- a couple weeks off
She's staying with us for a couple weeks.
He took a couple weeks off to travel.
The store will be closed for a couple weeks.
Common combinations
- a couple weeks ago
- They moved here a couple weeks ago.
- in a couple weeks
- The results will be ready in a couple weeks.
- for a couple weeks
- I'll be away for a couple weeks.
- a couple weeks off
- She has a couple weeks off before starting her new job.
Synonyms and how they differ
- a fortnight
- A British term meaning exactly two weeks; 'a couple weeks' is more general and informal, and can mean about two or three weeks.
- two weeks
- More exact and neutral; 'a couple weeks' suggests an approximate amount.
Word family
- couple noun
- two people or things together, or a small number.
Commonly confused: couple weeks or couple of weeks?
couple weeks vs couple of weeks
This is the same meaning but with 'of'. 'A couple of weeks' is more standard in writing; 'a couple weeks' is common in speech.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'couple weeks' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase needs 'a' before it: 'a couple weeks'. Option 0 is missing 'a'; option 2 uses 'the', which does not fit this fixed phrase; option 3 is missing 'a' before 'couple of'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “couple weeks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.