noun
Common
holidays
Holidays (noun) means Chiefly British: time off work or school, especially for travel or relaxation (usually plural). Example: “The children are looking forward to the school holidays and a week at the seaside.”
noun
1
Chiefly British: time off work or school, especially for travel or relaxation (usually plural).
"Where are you going for your holidays this year?"
"The children are looking forward to the school holidays and a week at the seaside."
"She spent her holidays walking in the hills with her sister."
"We're going away for the holidays in July."
2
The festive season around Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year.
"The shops are very busy in the weeks before the holidays."
"Happy holidays, everyone, and see you all in the new year!"
"The whole family gets together during the holidays."
"Where will you be spending the holidays?"
How to use holidays
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a vacation period (British usage) or the Christmas/New Year season.
UK vs US
"Happy holidays" in American English is a general seasonal greeting covering Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's.
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The children are looking forward to the school _____ and a week at the seaside.
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Rhymes for holidays
See all rhymes for holidays →Frequently asked questions
What does “holidays” mean?
The word “holidays” means chiefly British: time off work or school, especially for travel or relaxation (usually plural). In plain terms, either a vacation period (British usage) or the Christmas/New Year season.
How do you use “holidays” in a sentence?
Here is “holidays” used in a sentence: “We're going away for the holidays in July.”
What part of speech is “holidays”?
“Holidays” is a noun.
Is “holidays” a common word?
“Holidays” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “holidays” have?
“Holidays” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: chiefly British: time off work or school, especially for travel or relaxation (usually plural).
What is the difference between 'holidays' and 'vacation'?
In British English, 'holidays' means time off work or school for travel or relaxation. American English usually calls that same time a 'vacation', while reserving 'holiday' for a single public celebration. So a Briton on holiday and an American on vacation are doing the same thing.
What does 'the holidays' refer to?
'The holidays' commonly refers to the festive season around Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year. Phrases like 'happy holidays' greet people during this period without naming one specific celebration.
What is the difference between 'holiday' and 'holidays'?
'Holiday' in the singular often names one specific day or trip, while 'holidays' in the plural usually refers to an extended period of time off, such as the school holidays or the summer holidays. In British usage the plural is common for a stretch of leisure time.
Do you say 'on holiday' or 'on vacation'?
British English favours 'on holiday' or 'on my holidays', while American English favours 'on vacation'. Both mean spending time away from work or school, typically for travel or rest.
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