vacation

1 of 2

noun

va·​ca·​tion vā-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce vacation (audio)
və-
often attributive
1
: a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation
had a restful vacation at the beach
2
a
: a scheduled period during which activity (as of a court or school) is suspended
b
: a period of exemption from work granted to an employee
3
: a respite or a time of respite from something : intermission
4
: an act or an instance of vacating

vacation

2 of 2

verb

vacationed; vacationing vā-ˈkā-sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce vacation (audio)
və-

intransitive verb

: to take or spend a vacation
vacationed at the shore
vacationer noun

Examples of vacation in a Sentence

Noun Family vacations were a high point in my childhood. When are you taking vacation this year? Employees are entitled to 120 hours of paid vacation. I don't have any vacation days left. We have a one-week vacation in February. The university will be closed for Christmas vacation. Verb hoping to vacation in Spain this summer
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
An illustrious modeling career means Elsesser is often jet-setting the globe, and as a result, her time at home has become her vacation time. Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 11 Feb. 2025 Kick off your vacation or say goodbye to a wonderful trip in style by making dinner reservations at Old Florida Fish House. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
The 25-year-old influencer had been vacationing with Payne before his death and appeared in various videos from his final posts on Snapchat. Angel Saunders, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025 The line, however, is beginning to blur as people who vacation on yachts begin to view cruise liners through a charter lens. Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 4 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for vacation 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English vacacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French vacacion, borrowed from Latin vacātiōn-, vacātiō "exemption from service, respite from work," from vacāre "to be empty, be free, have leisure" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at vacant

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vacation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near vacation

Cite this Entry

“Vacation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacation. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

vacation

1 of 2 noun
va·​ca·​tion vā-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce vacation (audio)
və-
1
: a period during which activity (as of a school) is stopped for a time
2
: a period spent away from home or business in travel or amusement

vacation

2 of 2 verb
vacationed; vacationing
-sh(ə-)niŋ
: to take or spend a vacation
vacationer noun

Legal Definition

vacation

noun
va·​ca·​tion
1
: a period in which activity or work is suspended
specifically : an interval between judicial terms
2
: an act or instance of vacating
vacation of a judgment

More from Merriam-Webster on vacation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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