vacationing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "vacationing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the activity of taking a vacation or to describe someone who is on vacation. Example sentence: We spent two weeks vacationing in the Caribbean.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Slim ski trousers and fur jackets for vacationing European royalty; tidy pencil-skirt suits that would fit any ambassadorial reception as well as a Ferrero Rocher.

The Guardian

Daniela Perez, 30, said she could not find tampons when she was vacationing over New Year's in La Lucila del Mar, a coastal city 222 miles (358km ) south-east of Buenos Aires.

The Guardian - Money

The place first took shape as a resort for vacationing Londoners, before its hastily built chalets and bungalows offered a permanent refuge for people from the capital and beyond.

The Guardian

Perhaps the conspirators were all vacationing in Aruba yesterday to escape the lashing autumn rains?

The Economist

While vacationing with their families for those few weeks, Senate Republicans found volunteers to drive to the Capitol every three days to hold minute-long, pro-forma sessions in an effort to thwart the president's recess appointment power.

The Economist

Like most Americans vacationing in India, Jayojit is careful about what he eats and drinks; his parents, though worldly by Indian standards, are a generation too old to have spent much time abroad.

The Economist

There were some beautiful photos posted by pals vacationing in Moscow; wedding news from a friend who had just got hitched in Switzerland; a heartwarming story about a friend's grandmother's 70th birthday; and a tale from a fellow Economist journalist in Asia who was having fun listening to a cab driver sing along to a mini karaoke machine he'd installed in his cab.

The Economist

While vacationing in London, Richard Hannay (played by Robert Donat) befriends a scared woman (Lucie Mannheim) who, in the course of an evening, tells him that she is actually a spy and makes a cryptic reference to "the 39 steps".

Encyclopedia Britannica

The two began dating, though their relationship was not made public until they were photographed together vacationing in Switzerland in 2004.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In Darbāreye Elī (2009; About Elly), conflicts and emotional revelations arise when a young teacher disappears while vacationing with a group of friends at a seaside cabin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In contrast, a progressive rockfall on the 14-mile Kemano penstock tunnel in Canada resulted in shutting down the whole town of Kitimat in British Columbia, and vacationing workers for nine months in 1961 since there were no other electric sources to operate the smelter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vacationing" to add a sense of active engagement and enjoyment to the act of taking a vacation. For example, "We are "vacationing" in Italy this summer" conveys a more dynamic image than "We are on vacation in Italy this summer."

Common error

While "vacationing" is widely accepted, it can sound slightly informal in very formal or academic writing. In such cases, consider using phrases like "taking a vacation" or "spending time on holiday" for a more elevated tone.

Linguistic Context

The term "vacationing" functions primarily as a present participle or gerund of the verb "vacation", indicating an ongoing action or state of being on vacation. As noted by Ludwig, the term is considered grammatically correct. Ludwig examples illustrate usage in various contexts, like describing activities during travel.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

33%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vacationing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used term, as validated by Ludwig AI, that describes the action of taking a vacation. Its function is to describe ongoing activities related to leisure and travel. While generally neutral to informal in register, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Encyclopedias. For more formal contexts, alternatives such as "taking a vacation" may be preferred. Overall, "vacationing" is a versatile term suitable for a variety of descriptive purposes related to travel and leisure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on vacation

A more common and general way to describe being on a vacation.

holidaying

A British English equivalent of vacationing.

taking a vacation

Expresses the action of starting or being in the process of taking a vacation.

spending time on vacation

Highlights the duration of the vacation.

traveling for leisure

Focuses on the travel aspect of a vacation.

enjoying a holiday

Emphasizes the enjoyment aspect of a vacation.

away on holiday

Indicates absence due to being on vacation.

out of office

Common phrase used to indicate someone is unavailable due to being on vacation or other leave.

taking a break

A more general term for taking time off, which could include a vacation.

leisure traveling

Another way to express traveling for recreational purposes.

FAQs

How can I use "vacationing" in a sentence?

You can use "vacationing" to describe the act of taking a vacation. For instance, "They are "vacationing" in Europe this summer."

What's a more formal alternative to "vacationing"?

For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "taking a vacation" or "spending time on holiday".

Is "vacationing" the same as "holidaying"?

"Vacationing" is commonly used in American English, while "holidaying" is its British English equivalent. They both refer to the act of taking a vacation.

What does it mean to say someone is "vacationing"?

To say someone is "vacationing" means they are currently on or actively taking a vacation, typically involving travel and leisure activities.