leisure

noun

ˈlē-zhər How to pronounce leisure (audio)
Definition of leisurenext
as in relaxation
freedom from activity or labor upon retiring, the elderly couple looked forward to a life of well-deserved leisure

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of leisure That applies to organisations such as cafes, leisure centres, gyms and hairdressers, as well as public toilets, local sports clubs with at least 25 members, hospital wards, domestic violence shelters and rape-crisis shelters. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 6 Aug. 2026 But over time, many retirees find that purpose matters more than leisure alone. — Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 But there are plenty of other destinations around the world that are just as well suited to business or leisure travel. — Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026 Expect business folk, Scandinavian families, well-to-do Danish neighbors popping in for breakfast or dinner, as well as leisure travelers from the US and beyond, who know about this nook of the city. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leisure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leisure
  1. relaxation
  2. rest
  3. resting
Noun
  • As for hospitality, relaxation comes easy within luxurious canvas tents alongside a comprehensive birdwatching program—especially those led by Oberoi’s expert naturalist, Soulin Chatterjee.
    — Lydia Swinscoe, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Fortunately, getting meaningful rest and relaxation doesn’t always have to come with a hefty price tag or require time off for travel.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of relaxation
Noun
  • The athletes will enjoy a rest day tomorrow before returning to Mortgage Matchup Center for the second and final day of competition.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Journal, rest, take a silent walk, or name the thought that keeps circling.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of rest
Noun
  • Trusting Kanan, Raq visits Stefano in one part of New York while Kanan visits his late Uncle Marvin’s last resting place in another.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The final resting place of SpaceX's moon-smashing rocket has been found.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of resting

Browse Nearby Words

leisters
leisure
leisureliness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leisure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leisure. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on leisure

Nglish: Translation of leisure for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about leisure

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gnomic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All