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.
-
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.
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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
-
is vacationingprogressive
-
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:
Passing down a family business or vacation home might seem like a generous gift to future generations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
Going on vacation temporarily gets you away from your regular life.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
But French teachers, many of whom say they are passionate about their job, do enjoy long vacation periods.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Ultimately, the board of directors had to sign off on Adelkoff’s vacation payout, apartment and car.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Except now it’s on a postcard sent from a vacation destination I’ve only seen on Instagram.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
I grew up within driving distance of several of my cousins and spent vacations with them at my grandparents’ home, playing in the pool and battling over board games.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
Nolette added these officials deserve occasional vacations like everyday Americans.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
It would also have to cover things like paying for vacations, replenishing an emergency fund if it’s been tapped, and setting aside money in a health savings or college account.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
Pancho and Terésa built a home, bought new cars and took beach vacations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
The next morning was a Saturday, and it was our first summer in Oklahoma, so we didn’t know that kids went to camps, and soccer leagues, and vacations, and stuff.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
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
Before picking the destinations, the airline looked at its population of TrueBlue cardholders and where they vacationed over the past two years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
And he allegedly vacationed with employees of a major distributor and suppliers at exclusive golf and other resorts in Florida, Oregon, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, among other destinations, according to court documents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2025
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
We love vacationing in Lake Tahoe, swimming and boating.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
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
Americans are finding ways to navigate the new reality of vacationing in Europe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
But costs associated with vacationing is a “common roadblock” according to AARP.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 20, 2026
The apartment is blasting with a heat I’ve never known, the closest thing being when I was in Cuba vacationing with my family on Varadero Beach.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
