vacation
Americannoun
-
vacations
plural
-
a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday.
Schoolchildren are on vacation now.
-
a part of the year, regularly set aside, when normal activities of law courts, legislatures, etc., are suspended.
-
freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.
-
an act or instance of vacating.
verb (used without object)
-
vacations,
present (3rd person singular)
-
vacationed,
past participle, past
-
vacationing
present participle
noun
-
a period of the year when the law courts or universities are closed
-
a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation Also called (in Britain and certain other countries) holiday
-
the act of departing from or abandoning property, etc
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
vacationsimple
-
vacationssimple
-
have vacationedperfect
-
has vacationedperfect
-
am vacationingprogressive
-
are vacationingprogressive
-
is vacationingprogressive
-
have been vacationingperfect progressive
-
has been vacationingperfect progressive
Past
-
vacationedsimple
-
had vacationedperfect
-
was vacationingprogressive
-
were vacationingprogressive
-
had been vacationingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of vacation
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin vacātiōn-, stem of vacātiō “freedom from something”; equivalent to vacate + -ion; replacing Middle English vacacioun, from Anglo-French
Explanation
A vacation is a time specifically set aside for enjoyment or relaxation, like a dream vacation to Hawaii. Vacation began as an Old French word, meaning "freedom or release" from an activity or occupation — like summer vacation. There's no school. During summer vacation, you'll do lots of things — but you won't be in school. You might even go somewhere for a vacation. Another meaning of vacation is "voiding something legal," like the vacation of the old law about not tying your horse in front of City Hall.
Vocabulary lists containing vacation
Travel
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
vac
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Blasted to Smithereens: Synonyms for "Break"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
“Instead of mom or dad missing work twice,” Cassidy said, parents could have to “miss work or take vacation or personal leave six times.”
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
When Patel began working as a federal attorney, her boss advised her to save up her vacation days in case she eventually wanted to have children and needed to take leave.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
The Surge will be off on vacation next week.
From Slate ● Aug. 15, 2026
The magazine said Macron's vacation routine also included boxing and running.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Weren’t they supposed to be on vacation already with Max?
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Some visitors left immediately, but others who had one more day left of their vacations opted to stay until Tuesday morning, she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Gold-tier trips include seven nights in either Europe or Asia, while silver-tier vacations include four nights in Iceland or tropical locales including the Caribbean and Hawaii.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Factor in the things you’ve been putting off, such as travel, vacations, hobbies or home improvements.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
And social media has made it easy to envy, emulate and one-up friends’ vacations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Though the only vacations I go on are to see my abuela or my real dad.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
Wearing a life vest that showcased his toned arms, Macron cut a sporty figure as he vacationed at the Bregancon Fort, the presidential retreat, during France's August summer break.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Schmidlin has often vacationed in Florida and was thrilled once he heard Publix was coming to town.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026
Last summer, the Bidens vacationed in Lake Tahoe at the waterfront home of billionaire Tom Steyer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2024
And it turned out this was a thing; some therapists even vacationed in July to fill the end of summer void.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2024
The upper crust vacationed in Europe and worshiped an Episcopal God.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
The photo shows a vacationing couple seated in striped deck chairs beneath a brightly coloured parasol on a beach.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
The victim was a 28-year-old man from Mexico who was vacationing with friends, Jalisco state police told ABC7.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
Balancing vacationing now with planning for dream trips in the future is important, she said.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 20, 2026
As I ambled past groups doing yoga and vacationing families lounging on the grass, pain started to radiate through my ankles and up my shinbones before settling uncomfortably in my hips.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
“Dude, why are you really here? It seems mighty convenient that a vacationing, time-traveling superhero accidentally shows up in Logan the same day time freezes. Ain’t that right, Otto?”
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
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.
