HOLIDAY Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

holiday 1 of 2

noun

ˈhä-lə-ˌdā

Definition of holiday

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

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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

The return-to-office deadline also came two days before the observed July Fourth holiday, a week when many workers traditionally take vacation, and during summer vacation for most schools. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 South Shore Line trains resumed on a holiday/weekend schedule two days after the derailment Friday, with busing between Miller and Hegewisch stations because of the derailment and power loss. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 July 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 Johnson, who knew Williams from their time with Wales, talked his countryman into the move to Forest from Anfield in the Greek sunshine as the pair holidayed together in 2022. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for holiday

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holiday

vacation

Noun

The white floral print channels the actress’s effortless aesthetic, and the easy-to-style design can be paired with tank tops, T-shirts, or even worn as a strapless swimsuit cover-up for beach days and vacations.

— Taylor Jean Stephan, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
New reads abound for your vacation tote throughout the weeks of July, with fiction picks featuring a Carnival cruise casualty, a highly entertaining jewel heist at the Waldorf-Astoria, and a Soviet-era madcap adventure.

— Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of vacation

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holey

holiday

holidayed

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Style

“Holiday.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holiday. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of holiday

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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