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:
In Wild Horse Nine, a pair of CIA agents take a break from planning to overthrow Chile’s Marxist president to take a vacation on Easter Island.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026
This isn’t just a jam-packed vacation on the high seas for them, it’s a passion project that begins long before the suitcases come out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
Steps away, sliding glass doors provide direct access to a beautiful terrace, where a private pool and raised spa make an average afternoon at home feel like a vacation.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026
“Mailyan also billed for providing Botox injections when she was actually on vacation in Mexico, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, and New York at various times throughout her fraud scheme,” the Justice Department said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
“There’s a two-week Christmas vacation coming up soon. I think Humphrey better spend it here.”
From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
Those resorts were once synonymous with the most generic budget vacations — packed buffets, weak drinks, brightly colored beachfront hotels that vacationers never leave — observed Bernstein analysts in a note on Friday.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
The city mandates annual five-week vacations for the horses and regular veterinary inspections.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Redoing the math, the truth emerges that they had $155,000 available, from which they could pay for their retirement funds, child care, cars, vacations, charitable contributions and miscellaneous expenses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
Nolette added these officials deserve occasional vacations like everyday Americans.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
They had been frozen in another age, a time when Kaiser factory workers could buy new cars, take decent vacations, and enjoy full health care benefits.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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
When they occasionally vacationed at a cabin, with showers and toilets, it was a real treat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 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
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
“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
Half of respondents who said they were not vacationing this summer said cost was the reason.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026
But costs associated with vacationing is a “common roadblock” according to AARP.
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
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.
