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?

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bucket list British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of bucket list

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

Example Sentences

The colorful city of Salvador has long been on photographer Tyler Mitchell’s bucket list.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

“One thing I never had on my bucket list was a statue,” Leslie told The Times on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

“We had a guy do it in a ’67 Chevy, that was on his bucket list: Older guy who did it with his wife, and it was a convertible,” said Weiss.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

He described how when he was given his diagnosis his first reaction was to think of "bucket list things, things I've not done, I've wanted to do" - but that soon changed.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

It isn’t with Abby, and I certainly won’t be crossing off that one item on Will’s bucket list, but just going makes me feel closer to them.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott