be on vacation

USAGE SUMMARY

"be on vacation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a person is away from their home or usual workplace temporarily, usually for leisure and relaxation. For example: "My family is on vacation in Hawaii this summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A judge ruled that I should be "on vacation" from them.

The New Yorker

For Cephus, God seems to be "on vacation in Miami" most of the time.

Los Angeles Times

"Why should my kid be forced to keep reading when she's supposed to be on vacation?" one parent demanded.

The New York Times

"The Brazilians listen only to God, and he seems to be on vacation," explained one Mexican official last month.

Forbes

Sandy Beach: If you are lucky enough to live near the beach, or be on vacation near one, the sand is a great place to workout.

WikiHow

Many of the cars on Richard Herbert's block, in the Park Slope neighborhood in Brooklyn, seem to be on vacation, and a very lazy one at that.

The New York Times

The best ones do that when love appears to be on vacation, choosing hope and promise over Armageddon.

Huffington Post

He could not be on vacation.

The New York Times

Q: I'll be on vacation for two weeks in August.

The New York Times

If not, I'll be on vacation in the Bahamas".

The New York Times - Sports

I am paying him to be on vacation with me.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for an international audience, consider using "be on holiday" as a synonym, especially if your target audience is British, to improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "be on vacation" interchangeably with terms like "be on leave" or "be on a break" if the context requires specifying the reason for absence as leisure. "Be on leave" can imply sick leave or other types of leave, while "be on a break" is less specific regarding the activity during the absence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be on vacation" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating a state of temporary absence from work or routine activities for leisure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be on vacation" is a grammatically sound and widely accepted way to express that someone is taking time off for leisure. As Ludwig AI points out, it is correct and usable in written English. It fits seamlessly into a variety of contexts, ranging from news reports to personal communications. While alternatives exist, such as "be taking a vacation" or "be having a holiday", "be on vacation" remains a versatile and easily understood option. Remember to use it when you want to clearly indicate a temporary absence for leisure, distinguishing it from other types of leave or breaks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be taking a vacation

Emphasis on the action of taking a vacation, rather than simply being in the state of vacation.

be having a holiday

Uses the term "holiday" which is more common in British English.

be away on vacation

Adds emphasis on the state of being away from one's usual place.

be enjoying a vacation

Highlights the aspect of enjoying or experiencing a vacation.

be on a break

Implies a temporary cessation of regular activities, which might not be explicitly for leisure.

be off work

Focuses on the absence from work, potentially for reasons other than vacation.

be out of office

More formal and specifically refers to absence from a workplace.

be in recess

Suggests a formal break, often used in political or academic contexts.

be on sabbatical

Implies a longer, more structured leave, often for academic or professional development.

be on leave

General term for being away, encompassing various reasons including vacation.

FAQs

How can I use "be on vacation" in a sentence?

You can use "be on vacation" to describe someone who is away from their usual activities for leisure. For example: "My family will "be on vacation" in Italy next month".

What can I say instead of "be on vacation"?

You can use alternatives such as "be taking a vacation", "be having a holiday", or "be away on vacation" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "be on vacation" or "being on vacation"?

"Be on vacation" is generally used to state a future or general condition, while "being on vacation" is used to describe an ongoing state. For example, "I will "be on vacation" next week" versus "I am enjoying "being on vacation" right now".

What's the difference between "be on vacation" and "go on vacation"?

"Be on vacation" describes the state of being away, while "go on vacation" describes the action of starting a vacation. For example, "They will "go on vacation" next week, so they will "be on vacation" then".