honeymoon

American  

[huhn-ee-moon] / ˈhʌn iˌmun /

noun

1. a vacation or trip taken by a newly married couple (often used attributively).

   After you've said "I do," why not escape to a dream honeymoon in Greece?

   Relax and kindle the flame of passion in one of our honeymoon suites.

2. a period of harmony at the beginning of a marriage.

   After the initial honeymoon, there may be a temptation to let routine take over.

3. any period of blissful harmony.

   Their entire 60 years of marriage was one long honeymoon.

4. any new relationship characterized by an initial period of harmony and goodwill.

   The honeymoon between Congress and the new president was over.

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verb (used without object)

honeymoons, present (3rd person singular) honeymooned, past participle, past honeymooning present participle

1. to spend one's honeymoon (usually followed by in orat ).

   In a few months we’ll be honeymooning in New Zealand, and we can't wait!

honeymoon British  

/ ˈhʌnɪˌmuːn /

noun

1. 1. a holiday taken by a newly married couple

   2. ( as modifier )

      a honeymoon cottage

2. a holiday considered to resemble a honeymoon

   a second honeymoon

3. the early, usually calm period of a relationship, such as a political or business one

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verb

1. (intr) to take a honeymoon

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• honeymooner
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have honeymooned
  perfect
• has honeymooned
  perfect 3rd person singular
• honeymoons
  singular 3rd person
• am honeymooning
  progressive 1st person singular
• are honeymooning
  progressive
• have been honeymooning
  perfect progressive
• is honeymooning
  progressive 3rd person singular
• honeymooning
  participle
• has been honeymooning
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had honeymooned
  perfect
• had been honeymooning
  perfect progressive
• was honeymooning
  progressive singular
• were honeymooning
  progressive plural
• honeymooned
  simple
• honeymooned
  participle

Future

• will honeymoon
  simple
• will have honeymooned
  perfect
• will have been honeymooning
  perfect progressive
• will be honeymooning
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of honeymoon

First recorded in 1540–50; honey + moon

Explanation

A honeymoon is a trip that newlyweds traditionally take right after their wedding. You might want to wait to get married until you meet someone who wants to go to Legoland on a honeymoon as much as you do. Some honeymoons are long and luxurious, involving cruises and Europe or tropical beaches and fancy hotels, while others are simple and low-key. Many married couples don't take a honeymoon at all, or wait years until having a holiday they call a honeymoon. In the 1540s, it was a hony moone, and it referred more generally to the sweet, tender span of time after a wedding. In German, it's a flitterwochen, or "tinsel week."

Example Sentences

Ben's death came less than a month after the couple's wedding and just over a week after they returned from their honeymoon.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Only a few months ago, it was assumed the Fed might go along with one or two rate cuts this year to allow Warsh a honeymoon period.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

Some seats to the final at MetLife Stadium on June 11 cost more than a two-week honeymoon in St. Barts.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

Bilberry Woods, his hotel, claims a witch is locked inside the honeymoon suite where, decades ago, Ohm’s now-dead parents celebrated their marriage.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Fresh from his honeymoon with Marcela’s niece, the twenty-six-year-old operator of Baltimore’s Pimlico Racecourse had never given up on the idea of staging a War Admiral-Seabiscuit match race.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand