va·ca·tion
vā-ˈkā-shən 
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
Synonyms
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
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 12 Aug. 2024
At least another 27 states allow districts to determine when to return from summer vacation, according to an Education Commission of the States 2023 report that compares calendar year policies across the nation.
—Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024
Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 9 Aug. 2024
DiCaprio and Ceretti have been vacationing in Italy since late last month.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vacation 
Noun
In the News Annabelle Carlson, a 15-year-old from Aspen, Colo., was severely injured after getting attacked by a shark while on vacation with her family and flown back to the United States after being stabilized in Belize, according to family friend Aja Jewell.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 12 Aug. 2024
At least another 27 states allow districts to determine when to return from summer vacation, according to an Education Commission of the States 2023 report that compares calendar year policies across the nation.
—Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024
Verb
Lopez vacationed in Italy with friends before returning stateside to spend time with her twins and her stepdaughter Violet Affleck, whom Affleck shares with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
—Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 9 Aug. 2024
DiCaprio and Ceretti have been vacationing in Italy since late last month.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vacation
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vacation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near vacation
Cite this Entry
“Vacation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacation. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vacation
1 of 2 noun
va·ca·tion
vā-ˈkā-shən
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
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