Vacation Definition Vacation Definition 1

Vacation (noun) — is a period when people take a break from work or school to rest, relax and enjoy themselves. It often includes traveling to new places, spending time with family or friends and doing fun activities to feel happy and refreshed.

Part of speech:
Noun (countable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/veɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Vacation”?

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Tips for “vacation” pronunciation: 

Say “vacation” like vuh-KAY-shun, putting the stress on the second part.

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Examples: How to Use “Vacation” in a Sentence?

Using this word in sentences helps you understand how to talk about trips, holidays and free time. Here are some ways to use “vacation” in everyday situations.

I am going on vacation to the beach next week.
During summer vacation, the children like to play outside all day.
She spent her vacation visiting museums in Paris.
We stayed at a small hotel during our vacation in Italy.
He reads books and watches movies when he is on vacation.

What Are Synonyms for the Word “Vacation”?

Learn more about the synonymous expressions of this word in order to boost your language skills and expand your vocabulary.

Related nouns: trip travel break

Synonyms (contextual): holiday leave time off

Common collocations: go on vacation take a vacation family vacation

“Vacation” Word Formation and Description in Context

Discover various types of combinations of “vacation” with other parts of speech to create new, meaningful language units.

With adjectives: long vacation exciting vacation relaxing vacation

With verbs: plan a vacation enjoy a vacation extend a vacation

With nouns (noun + noun): vacation spot vacation day vacation memories

Idioms and Phrases with “Vacation”

What does “vacation” mean in indirect contexts? In this section, you will get an answer to this question that will give you new knowledge and reinforce your English.

  • Go into vacation mode — This means starting to relax and disconnect from work or stress, fully embracing a vacation mindset.

    After turning off her emails, Maria went into vacation mode and spent the entire day resting.
  • Well-deserved vacation — This refers to taking a break or holiday that someone truly deserves because of hard work or effort.

    After working nonstop for six months, Tom finally took a well-deserved vacation in Bali.
Vacation Idioma Vacation Idioma 1
  • Vacation of a lifetime — This describes a holiday that is exceptionally memorable, unique, or extraordinary, often something a person has dreamed of for a long time.

    Traveling to Japan and staying in a traditional ryokan was truly the vacation of a lifetime for Emma.

Test What You Know About Vacation Meaning — Quiz Time!

Define the vacation not only as a tourist activity, but also as something more exciting with our tricky tasks that will check what you know already!

Type 1: True/false statements:
Choose the correct answer:
1
People usually go on vacation only in winter.
2
Vacations are often planned to help people feel refreshed and happy.
3
During vacation, people are not allowed to relax or have fun.
Type 2: Right word order:
Put these phrases in the right order:
1
vacation
on
We
going
are
next
month
2
relaxing
is
for
important
very
vacation
a
Taking
3
not
did
go
last
He
vacation
year
on
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Select the most fitting variant:
1
After working nonstop for months, Sarah finally booked a two-week trip to Bali. It was her __________.
2
Traveling across Europe by train, visiting ten countries in one summer, was Anna’s biggest dream and a __________.
3
Mark always makes sure to finish all his tasks before he can truly relax and __________ during the holidays.

Enjoy personalized learning!

“Vacation” Word in Other Languages

Learn how to spell “vacation” in Spanish, French and German to broaden your horizons and impress your family and friends with such linguistic knowledge.

Language Word for “Vacation”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Vacaciones
Flag French French   Vacances
Flag German German   Urlaub

Did You Know It? Fun Facts About “Vacation”

The definition of “vacation” comes to life in these extraordinary stories, showing how people take time off in truly remarkable ways. From decades-long journeys to lavish tours, underwater hotels and solo escapes, vacations come in many forms.

  • World’s longest continuous vacation

    Ralph and Carolyn Lynn from the U.S. hold the record for the longest continuous vacation, which astonishingly lasted 23 years. Their journey began in 1988, and they moved from one country to another, with no permanent abode, until 2011.
  • The most expensive vacation package ever sold

    In 2017, DreamMaker sold the farthest and loftiest-priced tour of $13.8 million. The package included a private-jet journey to 20 cities for 50 people, fine dining in the air and even in-flight hypnotherapy to induce better sleep.
  • The world’s first underwater hotel room

    The Maldives grabbed headlines by opening the world’s first underwater hotel room, giving guests the surreal opportunity to spend a night under the ocean floor. The underwater room, with 360-degree glass walls, allowed vacationers to fall asleep watching exotic fish underneath.
  • Japan’s solo vacation trend

    In Japan, a fascinating trend has emerged where people book solo vacations to destinations traditionally meant for couples. Now these resorts and even honeymoon-style packages are being marketed to single travelers yearning for a little pampering on their own.

Famous Quotes Featuring “Vacation”

The word “vacation” takes on many meanings in these quotes, showing how people imagine rest, relaxation and life’s pauses in different ways. Let’s discover them together.

“I need a six-month vacation twice a year.”

— Pete MacArthur

Explanation: Every time we talk about rest, we tend to exaggerate. It highlights the commonplace reality of being too busy to relax. It humorously states that people rarely get enough time to recharge their batteries. We all wish life had more pause buttons.

“I never want to travel while I’m on vacation anymore. The only vacations I want to take now are ones where I just go and sit somewhere.”

— Hamilton Leithauser

Explanation: Instead of seeking adventure or constant activity, people now value rest, relaxation and simply being present in one place. It highlights the idea that the true purpose of a vacation is to recharge and enjoy calm, rather than packing the schedule with sightseeing or travel.

“In love, there are no vacations. No such thing. Love has to be lived fully with its boredom and all that.”

— Marguerite Duras

Explanation: You should remember that love must be given 100% or be present every moment, even during mundane or challenging times. It reminds us that real love involves embracing both the joys and the routine struggles.