Break
Break noun - A period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended.
Usage example: most of the students at the boarding school are going home for Christmas break
Vacation is a synonym for break (North American) in holiday topic. In some cases you can use "Vacation" instead the word "Break" as a noun or a verb.
Vacation
Vacation noun - A period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended.
Usage example: area schools are on vacation that week in February so local ski resorts do a booming business
Break is a synonym for vacation in holiday topic. You can use "Break" instead the word "Vacation" as a noun or a verb, if it concerns topics such as planned time spent not working.
Mutual synonyms
How words are described
Both words in one sentence
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An Asskicking Christmas: The film is set during the Christmas vacation/break season, as indicated by the opening scenes of the film.
Source: Film / Jurassic World -
They finally break the cycle when Kyon suggests a suitable ending to their summer vacation to Haruhi.
Source: Temporal Paradox - Villains Out Shopping: Mink and Tank are on vacation in Episode 12, even taking a break from stealing.
Source: Anime / Brave Beats
Cite this Source
Vacation and Break. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/break/vacation
Break & Vacation. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/break/vacation>.
Vacation or Break. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/break/vacation.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "break" and "vacation" have occurred on timeline