vacation

vay-KAY-shuhn/veɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/UKvuh-KAY-shuhn/vəˈkeɪ.ʃ(ə)n/

Pluralvacations

Verbvacations, vacationing, vacationed

8 meanings of vacation

Practice

1
nouncountable or uncountable
Time off from work that you spend resting, traveling, or having fun.
Like a break from school, but for grown-ups who work.
We spent our vacation hiking in the mountains.
A long vacation by the sea left her feeling refreshed.
Similarholiday, trip, getaway, break
2
nouncountable or uncountable
A long period of time away from work or school.
Like the long break between school terms.
The summer vacation gave students two whole months off.
He used part of his vacation to visit family back home.
Similarholiday, break, leave, recess
Note
3
verbintransitive
To take time off from work in order to rest or travel.
Like taking a break from work just to enjoy yourself.
They vacation in Florida every winter.
We like to vacation near the coast when the weather is warm.
Similarholiday, travel, summer
Note
4
nouncountable
A time when courts, universities, or offices officially stop their normal work.
Like a whole office closing down for a fixed stretch each year.
The courts hear no new cases during the long vacation.
Lectures pause during the winter vacation at the university.
Similarrecess, break, holiday
Oppositeterm, session
5
nouncountable or uncountable
Time when you are free from a job, duty, or activity.
Like a rest from something that usually keeps you busy.
He longed for a vacation from his endless household chores.
The quiet retreat offered a welcome vacation from daily worries.
Similarbreak, respite, rest, holiday, escape
Note
6
noununcountable
The act of leaving a place empty by moving out.
Like emptying out a room so someone else can use it.
The lease requires vacation of the apartment by the end of the month.
Their vacation of the old office happened almost overnight.
Similarevacuation, departure
Oppositeoccupation, occupancy
Note
7
nounUSuncountable
Canceling a court order or judgment so it no longer counts.
Like erasing a decision so it is treated as if it never happened.
The lawyer asked for vacation of the earlier ruling.
The judge granted vacation of the unfair verdict.
Similarannulment, nullification, invalidation, reversal
Oppositeaffirmance, affirmation
Note

Less common meaning

8
nounobsoleteuncountable
Free time spent on a chosen task, job, or hobby.
The first exploited his, sundrie waies, and excelleth in military exploits, and utilitie of his publike vacations.
1603, Michel de Montaigne, The EssayesHere, vacations means free time given to a task, such as public work.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of vacation apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came through Middle English and Old French from the Latin word vacātiō.