Synonyms of holiday

holiday 1 of 2

noun

ˈhä-lə-ˌdā 

chiefly British

as in vacation

a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended

the member of parliament met his wife while on holiday in the south of France

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vacation
• break
• leave
• hols
• recess
• relaxation
• rest
• sabbatical
• furlough
• liberty
• respite
• breather
• interim
• interval
• legal holiday
• feast
• intermission
• loafing
• holy day
• idling
• lounging
• slacking

holiday

2 of 2

verb

as in to vacation

to take or spend a vacation

saw kangaroos while holidaying in Australia

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of holiday

Noun

Some were designed to become annual traditions, such as the Tournament of Roses parade, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting and the reigning champion of NBC’s holiday specials, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

This year, organizers are also expanding holiday programming with a new event. — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Verb

The British royals had a splendid time holidaying with Spain's royal family at the Marivent Palace in August 1987. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

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