holiday

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noun hol·i·day \ ˈhä-lə-ˌdā , British usually ˈhä-lə-dē \

Definition of holiday

1 :holy day

an important Muslim holiday

2 :a day on which one is exempt from work; specifically :a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event

will be closed for the July 4th holiday

a national holiday

plans for the holiday weekend

3 chiefly British :vacation —often used in the phrase on holiday

going on holiday

—often used in plural

spent the summer holidays in Spain

4 :a period of exemption or relief

corporations enjoying a tax holiday

See holiday defined for English-language learners

See holiday defined for kids

Examples of holiday in a Sentence

July 4 is a national holiday in the U.S.
The stock market is closed tomorrow because it's a holiday.
She'll have four weeks' holiday next year.
We're planning on taking a holiday in the Caribbean.

Recent Examples of holiday from the Web

On weekends and holidays, adult tickets are $20, kids ages 6-12 are $12, and seniors are $15.

— lisa beebe, Los Angeles Magazine, "Here’s What’s New at the L.A. County Fair in 2017," 29 Aug. 2017
Smith, Joyce ▪ Casual Animal Brewing Co., 1725 McGee St.: Kyle and Lara Gray plan to open the microbrewery and tap room by the holidays.

— joyce smith, kansascity, "Crossroads updates: Beer hall, Baja-style street tacos & soon, new Novel restaurant," 25 Aug. 2017
The club is a sponsor and participant in the Festival for the Arts, the Independence Day activities and parade, the holiday parade and each October sponsors a Child Safety Day at Shamrock Park.

— allan vought, The Aegis, "Gazebo coming to Bel Air's Shamrock Park playground," 24 Aug. 2017
And what better way to decompress from our fascinating yet grueling family trek through one of China’s less touristed regions than with a stay at a familiar Western holiday staple: Club Med.

— kelvin chan, The Seattle Times, "Western brand, Chinese characteristics: Club Med at Guilin," 23 Aug. 2017
Chair Sylvia Kowal had collected holiday-themed donations since January, said Pearl Wells, who filled me in on the particulars.

— joyce rudolph, Glendale News-Press, "On the Town: Holiday sale keeps league members hopping," 8 Aug. 2017
Staff members help feed and manage medications for the 19 dogs and 17 cats on weekdays, while the students handle evening, weekend and holiday shifts.

— christa melnyk hines, Woman's Day, "This Veterinary College Student Lives with 36 Pets," 1 Aug. 2017
These statistics come after Chicago experienced one of its most violent Fourth of July weekends in recent years with at least 102 people shot during the week of the holiday.

— veronica hilbring, Essence.com, "On The Rise: Chicago's Homicide Rate Is Outpacing Last Year's," 26 July 2017
Sharp said the district’s calendar lists no religious holidays, and the plan was never to name only Muslim ones.

— gary warth, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Islamophobia, sex ed, water on slate at San Diego Unified," 24 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'holiday.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of holiday

Middle English, from Old English hāligdæg, from hālig holy + dæg day

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

holiday Synonyms

Synonyms

break, vacation [chiefly British], hols [British], leave, recess

Related Words

sabbatical; furlough, liberty; breather, relaxation, respite, rest; interim, intermission, interval; feast, holy day, legal holiday; idling, loafing, lounging, slacking

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial

holiday

verb

Definition of holiday

intransitive verb

:to take or spend a vacation or holiday (see ¹holiday 2) especially in travel or at a resort :vacation

will holiday this year at the shore

—

holidayer

noun

See holiday defined for English-language learners

Examples of holiday in a Sentence

She likes holidaying in the Caribbean.
saw kangaroos while holidaying in Australia

Recent Examples of holiday from the Web

Belgian media said the 44-year-old woman was holidaying in Barcelona with her husband and sons.

— Bloomberg.com, "The Latest Updates on Spain Terror Attacks," 18 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of holiday

see ¹holiday

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1869

See Words from the same year

holiday Synonyms

Synonyms

vacation

Related Words

escape, get (away), get off; break, recess; ease (up), let up; relax, repose, rest; bum, goldbrick, idle, laze, loaf, lounge, slack (off)

Near Antonyms

drudge, endeavor, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, work

Holiday

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biographical name Hol·i·day \ ˈhä-lə-ˌdā \

Definition of Holiday

Eleanora 1915–1959 Billie American jazz singer

HOLIDAY Defined for English Language Learners

holiday

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noun

Definition of holiday for English Language Learners

: a special day of celebration : a day when most people do not have to work

holiday

verb

Definition of holiday for English Language Learners

: to spend a holiday in or at a particular place

HOLIDAY Defined for Kids

holiday

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noun hol·i·day \ ˈhä-lə-ˌdā \

Definition of holiday for Students

1 :a special day of celebration during which schools and businesses are often closed

2 chiefly British :¹vacation

Learn More about holiday

See words that rhyme with holiday Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for holiday Spanish Central: Translation of holiday Nglish: Translation of holiday for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of holiday for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about holiday

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Origin and Etymology of holiday

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Other Calendar Terms

holiday

Definition of holiday

holidayer

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Origin and Etymology of holiday

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Holiday

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HOLIDAY Defined for English Language Learners

holiday

Definition of holiday for English Language Learners

holiday

Definition of holiday for English Language Learners

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