vacation
gb/veɪkˈeɪʃən/ us/veɪkˈeɪʃən/
A1
English
~ 1600
szabadság, nyaralás, szünidő, nyaral, szabadságát tölti, üdül
NOUN
A1
1
Usage pattern:
to be on [vacation]
We’re planning a two-week vacation in Italy this summer.
Kéthetes nyaralást tervezünk Olaszországban ezen a nyáron.
She saved money all year for her dream vacation.
Egész évben pénzt gyűjtött az álomnyaralására.
I prefer to take my vacation in the winter to go skiing.
During his vacation, he completely disconnected from email.
They spent their vacation visiting family and relaxing at home.
Learner examples
I am on vacation this week.
Ezen a héten szabadságon vagyok.
We go on vacation in July.
Júliusban nyaralni megyünk.
She is taking a vacation in Spain.
They have a long vacation in August.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'vacation' with 'holiday'. In American English, 'holiday' usually means a special day like Christmas, not a long break from work or school.
Meaning
Time off from work or study
Collocations
summer vacation
|go on vacation
|vacation time
|family vacation
|vacation destination
Synonyms
holiday (Common in British English for time off work or school; in American English, 'holiday' often refers to a specific festive day.)
Antonyms
workday (A day when one works, opposite of being on vacation.)
Themes
daily life
|travel
|leisure
|work
|education
Definition
A time when you are not at work or school and can rest or travel.
A scheduled period when someone does not work or attend school, often used for travel or leisure.
VERB
B1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
to vacation in [a place]
They usually vacation in the mountains every summer.
Általában minden nyáron a hegyekben nyaralnak.
We plan to vacation abroad next year.
Jövőre külföldön tervezünk nyaralni.
She loves to vacation by the sea.
Learner examples
We will vacation in Italy.
Olaszországban fogunk nyaralni.
They vacation in Florida every year.
Minden évben Floridában nyaralnak.
I want to vacation in Japan.
Common mistake:
Learners may not know 'vacation' can be used as a verb, especially if they are more familiar with British English.
Meaning
To take time off to rest or travel
Collocations
vacation abroad
|vacation together
|vacation home
Synonyms
holiday (Used as a verb mainly in British English to mean 'take a holiday'.)
Themes
travel
|leisure
|daily_life
|work
Definition
To go somewhere for rest or fun when you are not working.
To spend a period of time away from home for leisure, rest, or travel.
Grammar
Dictionary form
vacation
IPA
GB/veɪkˈeɪʃən/
US/veɪkˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
va - ca - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ca)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: vacation
- Plural: vacation, vacations
Verb
- Base: vacation
- 3rd Person Singular: vacations
- Present Participle: vacationing
- Past: vacationed
Word family
Forms
vacations
noun
vacationing
verb
vacationed
verb
Related words
vacationer
noun
holiday
noun A1
Expressions
on vacation
1/ˈɔn veɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Not working or attending school for leisure
Not at work or school because you are resting or traveling.
Examples
- I can’t attend the meeting next week because I’ll be on vacation.
- She’s on vacation in Hawaii right now.
summer vacation
1/sˈʌmɚ veɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Summer break from school/work for leisure
The long break in summer when students and some workers do not have to go to school or work.
Examples
- Kids look forward to summer vacation all year.
- We usually visit relatives during summer vacation.
vacation home
1/veɪkˈeɪʃən hˈoʊm/
fixed phrase
Secondary house for leisure stays
A house you use for holidays or weekends, not your main home.
Examples
- They bought a small vacation home near the beach.
- The family spends Christmas at their vacation home in the mountains.
vacation time
1/veɪkˈeɪʃən tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
Allocated leave from work for rest or travel
The days you can take off from work for rest or travel.
Examples
- I still have two weeks of vacation time left this year.
- Employees must request their vacation time in advance.