hol·i·day
ˈhä-lə-ˌdā 
British usually ˈhä-lə-dē
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 pluralspent the summer holidays in Spain
4
: a period of exemption or relief
corporations enjoying a tax holiday
holidayed; holidaying; holidays
: to take or spend a vacation or holiday (see holiday entry 1 sense 2) especially in travel or at a resort : vacation
will holiday this year at the shore
holidayer
noun
Examples of holiday in a Sentence
Noun
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.
Verb
She likes holidaying in the Caribbean.
saw kangaroos while holidaying in Australia
Recent Examples on the Web
Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
For Hilfiger’s holiday campaign, Jisoo was photographed by Yoon Ji Yong and styled by Choi Ja Young.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Sharon Hlapcich, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025
The entire piece is heavily indebted to Crowley’s former Golden Dawn master Allan Bennett, who the Great Beast had holidayed with in Ceylon in 1901.
—Stewart Home
august 22, Literary Hub, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holiday
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Noun
The family has also made friends with other parkgoers, traveling and spending holidays together.
—Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
For Hilfiger’s holiday campaign, Jisoo was photographed by Yoon Ji Yong and styled by Choi Ja Young.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
Woman’s Club hosts holiday fair for fundraiser A holiday boutique craft fair, hosted by the Woman’s Club of Orange, is scheduled from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Oct. 4 at the group’s clubhouse and the community is invited.
—Sharon Hlapcich, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025
The entire piece is heavily indebted to Crowley’s former Golden Dawn master Allan Bennett, who the Great Beast had holidayed with in Ceylon in 1901.
—Stewart Home
august 22, Literary Hub, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holiday
Cite this Entry
“Holiday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holiday. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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