recreation
Americannoun
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refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like.
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a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment.
noun
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refreshment of health or spirits by relaxation and enjoyment
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an activity or pastime that promotes this
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an interval of free time between school lessons
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( as modifier )
recreation period
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Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of recreation
1350–1400; Middle English recreacioun (< Middle French recreation ) < Latin recreātiōn- (stem of recreātiō ) restoration, recovery, equivalent to recreāt ( us ) ( see recreate) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
The word recreation is a noun meaning just about anything you do for fun: bowling, flying a model airplane, or just swimming the English Channel. If you do it to relax, recharge your batteries, or just to amuse yourself, it's probably recreation. You might think by looking at the word that recreation means remaking something, and, in a sense you'd be right. A person involved in recreation is "re-creating" themselves. The whole point of recreation, as the original Latin word recreare implies, is to refresh and renew. After a week behind a desk, you might be feeling worn down and tired. A weekend of recreation will help bring you back to life. So get out there and do the things you love to do!
Vocabulary lists containing recreation
One Crazy Summer
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"Handle with Care"
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Sports and Hobbies
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Apple TV horror-comedy is like if a more sympathetic version of the mayor from Jaws got stuck between The Shining and Parks and Recreation.
From Slate • Jun. 16, 2026
Friday, it was unclear whether overnight lodging would be available at the evacuation center set up at the Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center on Deodara Drive, the city’s community services director, John Montanchez, said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
What to Do: Rent a pontoon boat on Lake Wallenpaupack, then work off the camp-candy crash with a hike through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
The state acquired the land in 1974 and created the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area in 1982.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
“See you in the morning, Recreation Director!” he called, dismounting by his door as Asher continued on.
From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
