vacation

1 of 2

verb

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

intransitive verb

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

vacationer

2 of 2

noun

va·​ca·​tion·​er -sh(ə)nə(r) How to pronounce vacationer (audio)
plural -s

Synonyms of vacation

Examples of vacation in a Sentence

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.
Verb
Police said the teen and her family were vacationing in San Diego from Arizona when her ex-boyfriend allegedly shot her. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, took the top spot in the ranking, with celebrities including Zendaya, Brad Pitt, Kim Kardashian, and Leonardo DiCaprio all spotted vacationing there over the years. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026 In March, Hamilton left a flirty comment under one of Kardashian's Instagram posts, and later that same month, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that the pair were vacationing together in Tokyo alongside Kardashian's four kids. Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026 Earlier this year, the couple was also seen vacationing on the Greek island of Hydra, where Pitt began production on his upcoming film, The Riders, a psychological thriller. Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for vacation

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vacation was in 1883

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vacation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacation. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

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

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