vacation1 nounvacation2 verb
vacationva‧ca‧tion1 /vəˈkeɪʃən $ veɪ-/ ●●● S2 W3 noun 
Word OriginWORD ORIGINvacation1
ExamplesOrigin:
1300-1400 Old French, Latin vacatio ‘freedom’, from vacare; ➔ VACANTEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- He worked at the resort during his college vacations.
- I spent part of my Christmas vacation with my dad's family.
- I want you to write about your vacation.
- The company allows us 14 vacation days a year.
- The skating rink will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during summer vacation.
- Under the new plan, students will have shorter summer vacations and longer winter vacations.
- Adam could have it for his long vacation.
- All the tricks I knew were away on vacation.
- Co-workers told police that she was on vacation and probably heading to the state of Sinaloa.
- Only the affluent could afford to take vacations or to travel abroad because holidays with pay were not mandatory in the 1920s.
- The vacation hardship allowance was almost unheard of and was not being demanded.
- The vacation time you accumulated with your previous employer has to be honored, usually by that employer.
- The problem is that the companies' vacation policies differ and I need to know which one applies.
- These governed other activities on behalf of the workers - such as cafeteria, warehousing, kindergarten and vacation facilities.
THESAURUS► vacation
Collocations especially American English, holiday especially British English time you spend away from school or work: · Are you taking a vacation this summer?· We met on holiday in Cyprus.· What are you doing in the school holidays?
► holiday a day that is set by law, when no one has to go to work or school: · the Thanksgiving holiday· New Year’s Day is a national holiday.· In 2002, there was an extra public holiday to mark the Queen’s golden jubilee.· the August bank holiday (=day when all the banks and shops are closed – used in British English)
► break a time when you stop working or studying in order to rest, or a short vacation from school: · a ten-minute coffee break· Lots of college kids come to the beaches during the spring break.
► leave a time when you are allowed not to work: · We get four weeks’ annual leave (=paid time off work each year).· He has been taking a lot of sick leave (=time off work because you are ill) recently.· Angela is on maternity leave (=time off work when having a baby).· He was given compassionate leave (=time off work because someone close to you has died, is very ill etc) to go to his father’s funeral.
► sabbatical [usually singular] a period when someone, especially a teacher, stops doing their usual work in order to study or travel: · She was on sabbatical for six months.· I’m thinking of taking a sabbatical.
► furlough a period of time when a soldier or someone working in another country can return to their own country as a holiday: · While on furlough, he and his girlfriend got married.
► R & R (rest and relaxation) a holiday, especially one given to people in the army, navy etc after a long period of hard work or during a war: · Soldiers in Vietnam were taken to Hawaii for R & R.
Longman Language Activatortime when you are allowed to be away from work or school► holiday British a period of time when you do not have to go to work or school: · I get four weeks' holiday each year.· Work has been so hectic - I really need a holiday.the holidays/summer holidays/school holidays (=the long periods when schools close): · July 20th is the first day of the summer holidays.Christmas/Easter etc holiday: · Last year we spent most of the Christmas holiday at our grandma's.spend your holidays: · As a boy, Luckett spent his holidays here in Ledsham.in/during the holidays: · We try to do as many different activities as we can with the children during the school holidays.
► vacation especially American a period of time when you do not have to go to work or school: · I want you to write about your vacation.· The company allows us 14 vacation days a year.summer/Christmas etc vacation: · Under the new plan, students will have shorter summer vacations and longer winter vacations.spend your vacation: · I spent part of my Christmas vacation with my dad's family.during summer/winter etc vacation: · The skating rink will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during summer vacation.during somebody's/a vacation: · He worked at the resort during his college vacations.
► break a short holiday from your work or school: · The students get a few days' break in February.spring/winter/Christmas etc break: · Daytona Beach is preparing for the thousands of college students who will arrive for spring break.take a break: · Can you take a break next month?
► day off/afternoon off etc a period of time when you are allowed to be away from work: · Wednesday is my only day off this week.have/take a day off: · I've got a day off on Friday -- I'll come and see you then.· Can you take the morning off tomorrow?
► time off time when you are allowed to be away from your work, in order to rest or do something different: have/take time off: · Is Phyllis taking any time off when you're there?· I'll get some time off around Christmas.
► leave a period of official holiday time, especially for people who are in the army, navy, or police etc: · I get twenty-five days' leave a year.· Phil still has three days' annual leave owing to him.be on leave (=having a holiday): · They got married while he was on leave from the army.
► half-term British a short holiday in the middle of the school term: · It rained all through half-term.· Half-term is the last week in October.
a day's holiday when all the shops, banks etc are closed► holiday · We'd forgotten that July 14th was a holiday in France.national holiday (=a holiday for the whole country) · St Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland.bank holiday/public holiday British (=an official holiday) · This shop is closed on Sundays and public holidays.· The roads are always busy on bank holidays.
time when you travel to another place for enjoyment► holiday British /vacation American a period of days or weeks that you spend in another place or country for enjoyment: · France is the ideal place for a romantic holiday.be on holiday/vacation: · Mrs Southey is on holiday in Florida.· Karl will take care of the house while we're on vacation.have a holiday/vacation: · I had two weeks' holiday in Thailand last year.take a holiday/vacation (=go somewhere for a holiday): · We couldn't afford to take a vacation at the moment.family holiday/vacation (=with your family): · They take a two-week family vacation every summer.
► trip a holiday, especially an organized holiday that you go on in order to do a particular activity: · This year we're going to Colorado on a five-day skiing trip.go on a trip: · They went on a trip to Australia and loved it.· Every year Peter goes on a fishing trip with all his old friends.take a trip: · We have enough money saved to take a trip to Cancun.
► honeymoon the holiday that a man and a woman have just after they are married: · We had our honeymoon in Majorca.on honeymoon: · Where are you going on honeymoon?
someone who is on holiday► tourist someone who visits a different place for interest and enjoyment: · More than 3 million American tourists visit Britain every year.· Tourists can use the colour-coded map to guide themselves on walks of the city.
► holidaymaker British /vacationer American someone who is spending time in another place or country for enjoyment - used especially in newspapers and advertising: · The town seems so empty in the autumn when all the holidaymakers have gone home.· In the 1950s, vacationers flocked to resorts in the Catskills.
► honeymooner someone who is on holiday with there new husband or wife soon after their wedding: · All the honeymooners will receive a free bottle of champagne.
to go for a holiday somewhere► go on holiday British /go on vacation American to go away from your home, especially for a holiday: · We used to go on holiday in Scotland when we were kids.· Make sure you get insurance before you go on holiday.· Most families go on vacation during the summer.
► go away to go away from your home, especially for a holiday: · We're going away for two weeks in June.· Martha and Tom are going away this weekend.
► get away to spend time away from your home - use this especially about someone who goes on holiday for a rest from their normally busy life: · We managed to get away for a week in August.get away from it all (=spend time away from all the things you usually have to do): · Yosemite is a great place to get away from it all.
► take off American informal to go on holiday, especially somewhere exciting or far away: take off for: · Carlos just took off for Venezuela for three weeks.
a place where people go or stay on holidays► resort a place where a lot of people go for a holiday, especially one that has a lot of things specially provided for tourists such as hotels, swimming pools, organized activities etc: · Acapulco is one of Mexico's most popular resorts.· Lift tickets at most ski resorts are about $30 to $40 a day.
► tourist attraction something such as a museum, place, event etc that tourists want to see: · Graceland, Elvis Presley's former home, is now a tourist attraction that draws more than 600,000 visitors every year.
► tourist destination a place where a lot of people like to go on holiday: · Amsterdam is the Netherlands' most popular tourist destination.· Phuket is an international tourist destination 430 miles south of Bangkok.
► tourist trap a place that a lot of tourists go to, but where hotels, food, gifts etc are more expensive than they should be, and that is often not as pleasant or interesting as tourists expect : · Residents are worried that the president's home town will turn into a tourist trap.
► camp American a place where children go to stay for a short time and do special activities and have fun: · College students work at a camp for kids from the inner city, leading craft activities and sports competitions.· A girl's basketball camp is being organized by the City Recreation Department.summer camp: · He's going to a Boy Scout summer camp for two weeks in August.day camp (=a camp where children go during the day, but come home at night): · The YMCA is running a day camp with crafts, sports, and water fun.
► holiday camp British a place where people, especially families, go for their holidays and where there are a lot of organized activities: · She won a talent show at a holiday camp in Wales.
► cruise a holiday during which you travel on a large boat that has entertainment, restaurants, swimming pools etc: · The seven-day cruise stops at Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and other Mexican resorts.cruise liner/ship: · a luxury cruise ship
► tour a trip in which you visit several different places with a group of other people: · The tour includes stops in Salzburg and Vienna.package tour (=a tour in which all the travel arrangements are made by the tour company): · Package tours that include tickets to Olympic events have sold well.
► holiday home British /vacation home American a house that someone owns in a place such as the mountains or the coast where they go for their holidays: · Many Swedes have small vacation homes on a lake shore.
► timeshare a holiday home that you buy with other people, so that each person can spend a period of time there: · They have a timeshare in Majorca.
► campground American /campsite British a place where people can bring tents or vehicles that they sleep in, to stay in while they are on holiday : · Campgrounds in Glacier National Park open in late May and early June.· Most French towns have a municipal campsite.
► hostel/youth hostel a cheap hotel where people can stay for a short time while they are travelling on their holidays: · We stayed at a cheap hostel in the centre of Prague.
the business of arranging holidays for people► travel/tourist industry all the jobs that are involved in providing services for tourists: · Restrictions introduced to control foot and mouth disease have hit the tourist industry hard.· In the U.S., the travel industry is the second largest employer in the nation.
► tourism when people travel to another place for a holiday - use this especially when you are talking about all the services tourists need, such as hotels, food etc: · As part of a plan to increase tourism, visitors staying less than 90 days do not need a visa.· The country relies on tourism and the sale of raw materials for hard currency.
► travel agency a business that arranges travel and holidays: · Travel agencies issue at least 80 percent of all airline tickets.
► tour guide someone who leads a tour to different places and tells people about their history, meaning etc: · Student tour guides take visitors on a one-hour tour of the campus.· According to our tour guide, Gibraltar is the largest fortress in the world.
WORD SETS► CollegeAA, nounacademia, nounacademic, adjectiveacademic, nounacademy, nounalum, nounalumna, nounalumni, nounalumnus, nounassistant professor, nounAssociate of Arts, nounassociate professor, nounaudit, verbBA, nounbachelor's degree, nounBig Man on Campus, nounblue book, nounbrother, nounBSc, nounbursar, nounbursary, nouncampus, nounCantab, chair, nounchancellery, nounchancellor, nounclass, nouncoed, nouncommencement, nouncommunity college, nounconservatoire, nounconservatory, nounconvocation, nouncourse, nouncredit, nouncum laude, adverbdean, noundean's list, noundiploma, noundissertation, noundoctor, noundoctoral, adjectivedoctorate, nounDoctor of Philosophy, noundon, noundorm, noundormitory, noundouble first, noundown, adverbelective, nounexaminer, nounextension, nounextramural, adjectivefaculty, nounfinancial aid, nounfirst class, noungrad, noungrad school, noungraduate, noungraduate, verbgraduate, adjectivegraduate school, noungraduation, nounGRE, nounGreek, nounhall, nounhall of residence, nounhaze, verbhigher education, nounhomecoming, nounhonor roll, nounhonours degree, nounintercollegiate, adjectiveintramural, adjectiveIvy League, the, adjectivejoint honours, nounjunior college, nounlectureship, nounLLB, nounLLD, nounLLM, nounMA, nounmagna cum laude, adjectivemajor, nounMaster of Arts, nounMaster of Science, nounmaster's, nounmaster's degree, nounmatriculate, verbmature student, nounMBA, nounMEd, nounmedic, nounmedical school, nounMFA, nounmidterm, nounMilitary Academy, nounminor, nounMLitt, nounmortarboard, nounMPhil, nounM.Sc., nounOpen University, the, option, nounoral, nounOxbridge, nounPhD, nounPhi Beta Kappa, nounpledge, nounpledge, verbpoly, nounpolytechnic, nounpost doctoral, adjectivepost-grad, nounpostgraduate, nounpostgraduate, adjectivepractical, nounprof, nounprofessor, nounprofessorial, adjectiveprofessorship, nounProvost, nounqualified, adjectivequarter, nounrag, nounread, verbreadership, nounredbrick, adjectiverush, verbrush, nounsandwich course, nounschool, nounsemester, nounseminar, nounseminary, nounsenate, nounsenior, nounsingle honours, nounsophomore, nounsorority, nounspring break, nounstate university, nounstudent union, nounsubject, nounsumma cum laude, adverbsummer school, nounsurvey course, nounsyllabus, nountech, nountechnical college, nountenure, nountermly, adjectivetertiary education, nountheological college, nounthesis, nounthird, nounthird class, nountutor, nountutorial, nountutorial, adjective2.1, nountwo-two, nounU., undergraduate, noununi, nounUniv., university, nounupperclassman, nounupperclasswoman, nounvac, nounvacation, nounvarsity, nounvice-chancellor, nounvisiting professor, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs► take/have a vacation
1[countable, uncountable] especially American English a holiday, or time spent not working: · We usually take a vacation once a year.
► go on vacation· I’m going on vacation next month.
► need a vacation· You’re working too hard. You need a vacation.
► spend a vacation· Where did you spend your vacation?
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + vacation► a summer vacation· What did you do on your summer vacation?
► a family vacation· We had to cancel the family vacation.
► a long vacation· She decided to take a long vacation.
► a short vacation· a short vacation at the beach
► a two-week/three-day etc vacationvacation + NOUN► a vacation spot (=a place for a vacation)· The island is my favorite vacation spot.
► a vacation day (=a day away from work on vacation)· You could take a sick day or a vacation day.
► vacation plans (=an idea about what you want to do on your vacation)· Do you have any vacation plans this summer?
COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘have vacation’. Say be on vacation.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► long· I am about to take a long vacation.· With school being such a lifeline for my beleaguered psyche, the long summer vacation presented a uniquely gloomy and purgatorial prospect.· Adam could have it for his long vacation.· It felt like coming home after a long vacation and settling in your own bed.· In the mornings, in the long vacations, she worked.· Only 17. 3 percent of 420 respondents reported that a long vacation recharges them.· The project consists of several months' fieldwork carried out during the summer term and long vacation of the Junior Honours year.· It meant giving up the security of my salary, together with sick leave, fringe benefits, and long vacation time.
NOUN► day· Head coach Larry Robinson and assistant Rick Green also were missing so they could get an extra vacation day in.
► family· When that goal was reached, we thought about a family vacation.· Prior will take a family vacation before coming on board.· Clinton was to leave Los Angeles on Friday for a family vacation in Wyoming.
► summer· In 1961 he spent the summer vacation touring with blues singer Sam Cooks.· Airports had already been packed due to the summer vacation rush.· Study for the dissertation for postgraduate degrees is normally undertaken during the summer vacation.· The planning department officials assigned to work on the project gave up their summer vacations to bring it in on time.· A major refurbishment of the Science Area took place during the summer vacation.· The postcards were usually of places we had visited as a family on those grueling summer vacations long ago.· This led into a couple of summers acting as a professional lifesaver during summer vacations from Sheffield University.· With school being such a lifeline for my beleaguered psyche, the long summer vacation presented a uniquely gloomy and purgatorial prospect.
► time· Students spend up to 60 days of residence in Gaeltacht communities, in vacation time, during the course.· Just take some vacation time if you want to be with your family.· The vacation time you accumulated with your previous employer has to be honored, usually by that employer.· They gave up their vacation time to campaign.· Congressional staffers who want to work on their bosses' campaigns must use vacation time.· A horseback-riding experience is dictated by ability, the size of the travel budget and the amount of vacation time you have.· His last two weeks as an employee will be spent using up accumulated vacation time.· So many paperbacks, so little vacation time.
VERB► go· And then you could go on going home for the vacations.· Another funny thing: I went on vacation once and stayed on the ocean.· You go on vacation and the e-mail keeps working.· This summer my parents and me went on a special vacation.· So we go on vacation and buy gifts for the other parents.· My friend Sally told us about the first time she and her husband, Toshi, prepared to go on vacation.· I offered to loan him money to go for a two-week vacation there and see if he liked it.· It should be with us in August, just as we go off on vacation.
► leave· At one stage she had suggested that he leave for a vacation and she stayed being, heading a Regency Council.· You have to get this done before you leave on vacation.· I like the day before I leave for vacation, too.· Cowher then left for vacation without commenting.
► pay· Clients still have to pay for their vacations, which usually involve the use of unused timeshare units.· Am I willing to give up paid vacations... any vacations?· Contractors are not entitled to paid vacation time.
► plan· Residents planned vacations out of town.
► return· All this would start up when we returned from summer vacation.
► spend· In 1961 he spent the summer vacation touring with blues singer Sam Cooks.· Can you imagine spending your vacation reading law?· How will you spend the academic vacations?· Even, two or three times a year, so much time spent for vacation.· People tend to do a good amount of research before they spend money on a vacation.· His last two weeks as an employee will be spent using up accumulated vacation time.· Buell recalls spending vacations and summer months picking garlic and onions in Gilroy and asparagus in Stockton.
► take· People often get this way before taking stylish vacations in exotic locales.· I wanted to go to the movies sometimes, read books, take a vacation.· Only the affluent could afford to take vacations or to travel abroad because holidays with pay were not mandatory in the 1920s.· This is a time when most camps close, forcing parents and guardians to take their own vacations.· Just take some vacation time if you want to be with your family.· So I took a vacation with a friend one summer and went up to Aspen.· Prior will take a family vacation before coming on board.· And in where I took my vacations.
► work· I had met Richard when he came into the estate agent's where I was working during the university vacation.· We worked hard for this vacation.· I work during my vacations as an auxiliary nurse at my local hospital.
We’re planning a vacation in Europe.on vacation He’s on vacation this week. We’re planning to go on vacation soon.2[uncountable] especially American English the number of days, weeks etc that you are allowed as paid holiday by your employer: How much vacation do you get at your new job? I think I have four vacation days left. Employees are entitled to four weeks’ paid vacation annually.3 a)[countable] British English one of the periods of time when a university is closedthe Christmas/Easter/summer/long vacation b)[countable, uncountable] American English one of the periods of time when a school or university is closedChristmas/spring/summer vacationCOLLOCATIONSverbstake/have a vacation· We usually take a vacation once a year.go on vacation· I’m going on vacation next month.need a vacation· You’re working too hard. You need a vacation.spend a vacation· Where did you spend your vacation?ADJECTIVES/NOUN + vacationa summer vacation· What did you do on your summer vacation?a family vacation· We had to cancel the family vacation.a long vacation· She decided to take a long vacation.a short vacation· a short vacation at the beacha two-week/three-day etc vacationvacation + NOUNa vacation spot (=a place for a vacation)· The island is my favorite vacation spot.a vacation day (=a day away from work on vacation)· You could take a sick day or a vacation day.vacation plans (=an idea about what you want to do on your vacation)· Do you have any vacation plans this summer?COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘have vacation’. Say be on vacation.THESAURUSvacation especially American English, holiday especially British English time you spend away from school or work: · Are you taking a vacation this summer?· We met on holiday in Cyprus.· What are you doing in the school holidays?holiday a day that is set by law, when no one has to go to work or school: · the Thanksgiving holiday· New Year’s Day is a national holiday.· In 2002, there was an extra public holiday to mark the Queen’s golden jubilee.· the August bank holiday (=day when all the banks and shops are closed – used in British English)break a time when you stop working or studying in order to rest, or a short vacation from school: · a ten-minute coffee break· Lots of college kids come to the beaches during the spring break.leave a time when you are allowed not to work: · We get four weeks’ annual leave (=paid time off work each year).· He has been taking a lot of sick leave (=time off work because you are ill) recently.· Angela is on maternity leave (=time off work when having a baby).· He was given compassionate leave (=time off work because someone close to you has died, is very ill etc) to go to his father’s funeral.sabbatical [usually singular] a period when someone, especially a teacher, stops doing their usual work in order to study or travel: · She was on sabbatical for six months.· I’m thinking of taking a sabbatical.furlough a period of time when a soldier or someone working in another country can return to their own country as a holiday: · While on furlough, he and his girlfriend got married.R & R (rest and relaxation) a holiday, especially one given to people in the army, navy etc after a long period of hard work or during a war: · Soldiers in Vietnam were taken to Hawaii for R & R.vacation1 nounvacation2 verb
vacationvacation2 verb [intransitive] American English Verb TableVERB TABLE
vacation
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | vacation |
| he, she, it | vacations | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | vacationed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have vacationed |
| he, she, it | has vacationed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had vacationed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will vacation |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have vacationed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am vacationing |
| he, she, it | is vacationing | |
| you, we, they | are vacationing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was vacationing |
| you, we, they | were vacationing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been vacationing |
| he, she, it | has been vacationing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been vacationing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be vacationing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been vacationing |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
word sets- Crew members said they were struck by how laid back and chatty the vacationing Clintons were.
- She spent several weeks vacationing at a camp on Lake Michigan with a girl named Sarah.
WORD SETS► Tourism
to go somewhere for a holidayvacation in/atà la carte, adjectivebag, nounbaggage, nounB and B, bed and breakfast, nounbellboy, nounbellhop, nounboarder, nounboarding house, nounboardwalk, nouncaravanning, nouncaravanserai, nouncarry-on, adjectivecase, nounchalet, nouncheckout, nounclerk, nounconcierge, nouncourier, nouncourtesy, adjectivecruise, nouncruise ship, noundesk, noundesk clerk, noundining room, noundocent, noundude ranch, nounen suite, adjectiveexcursion, nounfirst class, nounflophouse, nounfly-drive holiday, nounfull board, noungame park, noungame reserve, noungreen card, nounguest book, nounguesthouse, nounguide, nounguided tour, nounhalf board, nounhand luggage, nounhigh season, nounholiday camp, nounholiday home, nounhostel, nounhostelry, nounhotel, nounhotelier, nounhousekeeper, nouninn, nounLilo, nounlow season, nounmecca, nounmotel, nounmotor home, nounmystery tour, nounnational monument, nounnational park, nounnight porter, nounnon-resident, nounone-star, adjectivepackage tour, nounpacking, nounpension, nounpiste, nounportmanteau, nounreception, nounresort, nounroom service, nounsafari, nounsafari park, nounself-catering, adjectiveshowplace, nounsightseeing, nounsightseer, nounstar, nounsuitcase, nounsuite, nounsundeck, nountimeshare, nountime-sharing, nountour, nountour, verbtourist, nountourist office, nountourist trap, nountouristy, adjectivetour operator, nountravel agency, nountravel agent, nountravel bureau, nountwo-star, adjectivevacancy, nounvacation, verbvacationer, nounvalet, nounvalise, nounvisit, verbvisitors' book, nounwatering place, nounwaxwork, nounyouth hostel, nounyouth hostelling, noun
The Bernsteins are vacationing in Europe.