hol·i·day
ˈhä-lə-ˌdā 
British usually ˈhä-lə-dē
1
: holy day
an important Muslim holiday
2
: a day on which one is exempt from work
specifically
: a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event
will be closed for the July 4th holiday
a national holiday
plans for the holiday weekend
3
chiefly British
: vacation
—often used in the phrase on holiday
going on holiday
—often used in pluralspent the summer holidays in Spain
4
: a period of exemption or relief
corporations enjoying a tax holiday
holidayed; holidaying; holidays
: to take or spend a vacation or holiday (see holiday entry 1 sense 2) especially in travel or at a resort : vacation
will holiday this year at the shore
holidayer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of holiday in a Sentence
Noun
July 4 is a national holiday in the U.S.
The stock market is closed tomorrow because it's a holiday.
She'll have four weeks' holiday next year.
We're planning on taking a holiday in the Caribbean.
Verb
She likes holidaying in the Caribbean.
saw kangaroos while holidaying in Australia
Recent Examples on the Web
Shelby Stewart, Essence, 19 Dec. 2024
However, the market has suffered economic challenges and diminishing returns from some of the big holiday periods which resulted in the biggest differential between the original and current estimates.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024
Freya Drohan, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2024
Kate Middleton will be attending the royal family’s annual summer holiday in Balmoral.
WPA Pool/Getty Images
The royal family have been holidaying in Balmoral for decades, with Prince Charles enjoying trips to the Aberdeenshire estate with a young Prince William and Prince Harry.
—Isaac Bickerstaff, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for holiday 
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Noun
And if that weren’t enough to cement her holiday supremacy, Carey is bringing her festive magic to screens worldwide on December 25.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 19 Dec. 2024
However, the market has suffered economic challenges and diminishing returns from some of the big holiday periods which resulted in the biggest differential between the original and current estimates.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
The idea to host a triple whammy of a book signing fete came while the pals were holidaying in Sicily this summer.
—Freya Drohan, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2024
Kate Middleton will be attending the royal family’s annual summer holiday in Balmoral.
WPA Pool/Getty Images
The royal family have been holidaying in Balmoral for decades, with Prince Charles enjoying trips to the Aberdeenshire estate with a young Prince William and Prince Harry.
—Isaac Bickerstaff, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for holiday
Dictionary Entries Near holiday
Cite this Entry
“Holiday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holiday. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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