A1noun1K

Holiday

UK /["/ˈhɒlədeɪ//ˈhɒlədi/"]/US /["/ˈhɑːlədeɪ/"]/

Definition

a period of time when you are not at work or school

In simple words: A special day when people relax and celebrate.

Examples

  • I am going on holiday to the beach next week.
  • The holiday season is a time for family gatherings.
  • We have a holiday tomorrow because of the festival.
  • They plan their holiday every year to visit different countries.
  • Children love the summer holiday because they don't have school.

Usage notes

Used for official days off work or personal vacations. More formal when referring to public holidays; informal when discussing personal activities.

Grammar pattern

holiday + noun (e.g. holiday season)

Memory hint

Think of 'holi-day' as a day off from your busy life, like a holy break.

Collocations

  • annual
  • Christmas
  • Easter
  • be entitled to
  • get
  • have
  • time
  • entitlement
  • pay
  • during the holidays
  • in the holidays
  • on holiday
  • enjoyable
  • exciting
  • fun-filled
  • go on
  • have
  • take
  • destination
  • resort
  • venue
  • on (a) holiday
  • a holiday of a lifetime
  • bank
  • federal
  • national
  • celebrate
  • spend
  • break
  • weekend
  • season
  • bank
  • federal
  • national
  • celebrate
  • spend
  • break
  • weekend
  • season

Synonyms

  • festival
  • celebration
  • break
  • vacation
  • day off

Antonyms

  • workday
  • regular day

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'vacation' — 'holiday' refers to a day, while 'vacation' refers to a trip.
  • Using 'holiday' as a verb — it is not a verb.
  • Mixing up terms for holidays in different cultures.