sabbatical

noun

Definition of sabbaticalnext
as in vacation
a period of time during which someone does not work at their regular job Several professors will be taking sabbaticals this year. She recently returned to work after a two-year sabbatical from her acting career.

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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 sabbatical Almost no one can afford to take a sabbatical immediately, but make a plan for five to seven years from now and begin to budget and strategize to make the logistics work. — Dj Didonna, Time, 13 July 2026 For cultural and biological reasons, female tennis players far more commonly take sabbaticals. — Josh Levin, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026 The very mission of my sabbatical was to examine exactly this question. — Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 How to put this relationship advice into practice The research doesn’t demand skydiving or a six-month sabbatical. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sabbatical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sabbatical
  1. vacation
  2. break
  3. furlough
  4. leave
  5. holiday
  6. liberty
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
Noun
  • The team's official drumline, The Pack, pounded on illuminated drums during quarter breaks, while Skye, the team's sassy, blue-haired lioness mascot, jumped onto the T-shirt cannon to launch souvenir merchandise high into stadium seats.
    — Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Mourinho also voiced concerns about the upcoming three-week international break, fearing player injuries.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of break
Noun
  • Earlier this summer, the district proposed a midyear spending freeze and five furlough days to help close its $732 million budget gap, measures that could be back on the table.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, furlough transfers where minimum security inmates transfer from prison to prison are routine, allowing inmates the opportunity to catch their own ride to their next destination.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of furlough
Noun
  • Edwards said no officers have been put on leave, but an review is conducted after every pursuit.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2026
  • For larger plants, give them a thorough hose-down or shower, remove dead leaves and debris, and treat any visible pests before bringing them indoors.
    — Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of leave
Noun
  • In September 2025, the agency announced a similar holiday plan for the subsequent holiday season.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The company and the team will also organize school supply drives, holiday events, youth camps, and football clinics throughout the year.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of holiday
Noun
  • For many, the Obama presidency felt like a time when America’s founding principles of equality and liberty for all were finally being realized.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Through first-person testimonies and family photos from California communities, the show confronts family separations, civil-liberties violations and the long shadow of deportation campaigns on Mexican American life.
    — Isa Farfan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of liberty

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sabbatical
sabbaticals
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Cite this Entry

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

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