bucket list

American  

noun

Informal.

1. a list of things a person wants to achieve or experience, as before reaching a certain age or dying.

   a bucket list for a terminally ill patient;

   What’s on your summer bucket list?

---

bucket list British  

noun

1. informal a list of experiences one wants to have before one dies

---

Etymology

Origin of bucket list

First recorded in 2005–10; from the idiom kick the bucket “to die”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bucket list

As part of their "summer bucket list", they are planning to check out all the parks in the local area and she is prioritising low-cost activities throughout the summer.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

"Australia is for many of us a bucket list destination," the UK travel industry body tells us.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

By the time we packed up our tents and chairs, my brother had crossed Melville’s masterpiece off his bucket list.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

But is that something on your bucket list?

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026

Getting straight A’s wasn’t on Qareeb’s bucket list, despite my parents’ best efforts.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad