leisure

noun

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lei·sure | \ ˈlē-zhər

, ˈle-, ˈlā-

Essential Meaning of leisure

1 : time when you are not working : time when you can do whatever you want to do In his leisure [=free time, spare time], he paints and sculpts. I'd like to write more, but I simply don't have the leisure (to do it).

2 : enjoyable activities that you do when you are not working I don't have much time for leisure. She leads a life of leisure. [=she does not have to work] a character described as a lady/man/gentleman of leisure [=a woman/man who does not work and who spends a lot of time doing things for pleasure]

Full Definition of leisure

1 : freedom provided by the cessation of activities especially : time free from work or duties increase of leisure, diminution of hustle are the ends to be sought — Bertrand Russell

2 : ease, leisureliness

at leisure or at one's leisure

: in one's leisure time : at one's convenience read the book at her leisure

Other Words from leisure Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About leisure

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Synonyms & Antonyms for leisure

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples of leisure in a Sentence

I don't have much time for leisure. upon retiring, the elderly couple looked forward to a life of well-deserved leisure

Recent Examples on the Web The economy added just 194,000 jobs in September, with the leisure and hospitality sector — hardest hit by the pandemic and most affected by labor shortages — adding only 74,000 jobs. — Noah Williams, National Review, 13 Oct. 2021 The leisure and hospitality sector added 74,000 jobs last month, while retail added 56,000. — Irina Ivanova, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2021 Making up for some of the enormous job losses during the beginning of the virus outbreak, the leisure and hospitality sector, representing roles in restaurants, bars, hotels and travel, once again led job creation. — Jack Kelly, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2021 Of the nearly 10 million job openings in the United States, roughly 1 in 6 are in the leisure and hospitality sector that includes food service workers, according to data maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. — Aaron Gregg And Hamza Shaban, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2021 On an annual basis, the leisure and hospitality sector is the most improved with 31,000 positions added. — Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2021 The leisure and hospitality sector, which also includes entertainment and accommodation, was employing 13 percent fewer people. — New York Times, 3 Sep. 2021 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the leisure and hospitality sector counted 1.7 million fewer jobs in July than in February 2020. — Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2021 The leisure and hospitality sector led all gainers, adding 16,000 jobs. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2021

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