holiday 1 of 2

noun

ˈhä-lə-ˌdā How to pronounce holiday (audio)
Definition of holidaynext
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

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holiday

2 of 2

verb

as in to vacation
to take or spend a vacation saw kangaroos while holidaying in Australia

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of holiday
Noun
While the Asian Garden Mall has plenty of excitement to offer, take it from me—the area can get overwhelming during peak holidays. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026 Plus, this figure is the minimum needed—not counting any extra life extravagances like the annual family holiday, private school, or a bigger home. — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
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 The group argues that domestic production is impossible, decorations are critical to holiday retail sales and that tariffs effectively force businesses to choose between operating at a loss and closing. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for holiday
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holiday
vacation
Noun
  • The Queen previously had a pacemaker installed in January 2025 after experiencing atrial fibrillation during a ski vacation, which necessitated her being airlifted to the hospital.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The hit sequel follows 10-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) being separated from his family for a second time during a family vacation, and Kevin winding up at the luxurious Plaza Hotel in New York City.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of vacation

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holey
holiday
holidayed
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Cite this Entry

“Holiday.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holiday. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on holiday

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about holiday

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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