bucket list

noun

: a list of things that one has not done before but wants to do before dying

Examples of bucket list in a Sentence

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.
That movie magic, however, is good news for fans who can now plan a trip inspired by the film for a fraction of the airfare, focusing on either a domestic getaway to the Crescent City or a bucket list trip to a particularly dreamy stretch of the Mediterranean. Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026 For Chaves, doing a comic was a chance to cross a box on his bucket list. Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 14 Jan. 2026 Attending a Patriots game had long been on Shelly Sepulveda's bucket list, and last Sunday that dream became a reality. Logan Hall, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026 The 27-year-old has crossed off New York City, New Orleans for Mardi Gras, Barcelona and Madrid from her travel bucket list. Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bucket list

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase kick the bucket (to die)

First Known Use

2006, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bucket list was in 2006

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bucket list.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bucket%20list. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!