holiday

[ hol-i-dey ]

/ ˈhɒl ɪˌdeɪ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for holiday on Thesaurus.com

noun

a day fixed by law or custom on which ordinary business is suspended in commemoration of some event or in honor of some person.

any day of exemption from work (distinguished from working day).

a time or period of exemption from any requirement, duty, assessment, etc.: New businesses may be granted a one-year tax holiday.

a religious feast day; holy day, especially any of several usually commemorative holy days observed in Judaism.

Sometimes holidays. Chiefly British. a period of cessation from work or one of recreation; vacation.

an unintentional gap left on a plated, coated, or painted surface.

adjective

of or relating to a festival; festive; joyous: a holiday mood.

suitable for a holiday: holiday attire.

verb (used without object)

Chiefly British. to vacation: to holiday at the seaside.

SYNONYMS FOR holiday

2 vacation, break.

See synonyms for holiday on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar Coach

Improve Your Writing

Origin of holiday

before 950; Middle English; Old English hāligdæg.See holy, day

OTHER WORDS FROM holiday

pre·hol·i·day, adjective

Words nearby holiday

Hol Hamoed, Holi, holiatry, holibut, -holic, holiday, holiday camp, holidayer, holidaymaker, holiday season, holier-than-thou

Definition for holiday (2 of 2)

Holiday

[ hol-i-dey ]

/ ˈhɒl ɪˌdeɪ /

noun

Billie "Lady Day", 1915–59, U.S. jazz singer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for holiday

To that end, several companies are setting aside Election Day as a paid holiday to ensure that their organization safeguards rather than impedes employees’ ability to vote.
Why CEOs must take action on democracy and election integrity—and how they can do it|matthewheimer|August 27, 2020|Fortune
Shapps was forced to return early from a family holiday in Spain in July after the country was placed on the quarantine list.
The U.K.’s ever-changing COVID travel rules are baffling a nation that just wants to get away|kdunn6|August 22, 2020|Fortune
Hi there, this is Katherine in London filling in for Eamon, who is off on a well-deserved holiday.
The oil sands triggered a heated global debate on our energy needs. Now, they could be a sign of what’s to come|kdunn6|August 20, 2020|Fortune
It remains to be seen whether consumers will return to stores in large numbers for holiday 2020 shopping.
E-commerce explodes: 45% growth in Q2|Greg Sterling|August 19, 2020|Search Engine Land

On top of this, Prime Day has likely moved from Q3 to Q4, creating unprecedented crossover with the holiday buying season.
How to prepare your e-commerce ad strategy for an uncertain Q4|Sponsored Content: Pacvue|August 17, 2020|Search Engine Land
Day a state holiday, 21 years after President Reagan made it a federal holiday.
No. 3 Republican Admits Talking to White Supremacist Conference|Tim Mak|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not long after the holiday presents are put away and the guests have gone home, another season begins.
Why Your New Year’s Diet Will Fail|Carrie Arnold|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While traveling this holiday season, a relative and I were pulled over by a police officer.
Obama Is Right on Race. The Media Is Wrong.|Keli Goff|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Otherwise, we will be but celebrating an empty holiday, missing its true meaning altogether.
Jesus Wasn’t Born Rich. Think About It.|Gene Robinson|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gävle Goat must be dreading the imminent holiday and his fifty-fifty chance of destruction.
Sweden’s Burning Christmas Goat|Nina Strochlic|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ascension being a holiday here, all we pianists made up a walking party out to Tiefurt, about two miles distant.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
For instance, few workmen will take a holiday; they prefer a "day's out" or "play."
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
Isaacson did not visit Mrs. Chepstow again before he left London for his annual holiday.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
Indeed, it made me understand for the first time that even a Bank Holiday need not be a day of wrath and mourning.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
In 1878 Mathieson and I took a short holiday together and crossed to Ireland.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow

British Dictionary definitions for holiday (1 of 2)

holiday

/ (ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ, -dɪ) /

noun

(often plural) mainly British

a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreationUS and Canadian word: vacation
(as modifier)a holiday mood

a day on which work is suspended by law or custom, such as a religious festival, bank holiday, etcRelated adjective: ferial

verb

(intr) mainly British to spend a holiday

Word Origin for holiday

Old English hāligdæg, literally: holy day

British Dictionary definitions for holiday (2 of 2)

Holiday

/ (ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ) /

noun

Billie. real name Eleanora Fagan; known as Lady Day. 1915–59, US jazz singer

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with holiday

holiday

see busman's holiday.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

holiday