vacation
Americannoun
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vacations
plural
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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.
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a part of the year, regularly set aside, when normal activities of law courts, legislatures, etc., are suspended.
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freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.
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an act or instance of vacating.
verb (used without object)
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vacations,
present (3rd person singular)
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vacationed,
past participle, past
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vacationing
present participle
noun
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a period of the year when the law courts or universities are closed
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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
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the act of departing from or abandoning property, etc
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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vacationsimple
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vacationssimple
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have vacationedperfect
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has vacationedperfect
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am vacationingprogressive
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are vacationingprogressive
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is vacationingprogressive
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have been vacationingperfect progressive
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has been vacationingperfect progressive
Past
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vacationedsimple
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had vacationedperfect
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was vacationingprogressive
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were vacationingprogressive
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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
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vac
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Blasted to Smithereens: Synonyms for "Break"
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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.
See Examples For:
The stakes go far beyond daily routines or vacation itineraries; small businesses lose out on potential foot traffic and revenue whenever a thunderstorm icon appears, even if it’s bright and sunny outside.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
Hawaii, once a premier destination for American and international visitors, has lost traffic to newly popular vacation spots.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
On the surface, it is just a bit of summer programming: Kimmel is taking a vacation, so O’Donnell is filling in for him this week.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
The Sun newspaper said the couple would keep their Montecito home in California, as well as a house in Portugal where they are believed to have enjoyed some vacation time this summer.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
If her heart had its way, it would have skittered out of her chest and started vacation without her.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
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
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
Thousands of travelers are taking the plunge on surprise vacations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Some puzzles will have pieces containing real estate, others will have cruises and vacations.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
They were supposed to include her in family celebrations and vacations and help her enroll in educational programs and even pay her tuition if necessary.
From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg
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
The first time Robbins vacationed in Europe was in 2007, when he was 49.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Two years later, John C. Doerfer, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, likewise bowed out when it was revealed he had vacationed on the yacht of a wealthy friend.
From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2026
The Beach Boys performed there, and stars including Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz vacationed there, according to Linda Beal, a volunteer docent at the closed Salton Sea History Museum.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2024
“My cousin vacationed in Nowhere once,” Llewelyn whispered, but stopped after a cutting look from Sinchi.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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
Laferte, who lives in Mexico, was vacationing with her family in Paris when she spoke to De Los about her songwriting compulsion, the undeniable power of her voice, and a lifelong struggle with mental health.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 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
When my wife, Marie, and I were vacationing in Australia one summer, we decided to visit a site with well-preserved Aboriginal rock paintings in the desert near the town of Menindee.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
