sabbatical

noun

Definition of sabbaticalnext
as in vacation
a period of time during which someone does not work at their regular job Several professors will be taking sabbaticals this year. She recently returned to work after a two-year sabbatical from her acting career.

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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 sabbatical In the episode, Addison pulls her former sister-in-law, Amelia (Caterina Scorsone), out of her sabbatical to assist with a consult on a pregnant woman. — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026 On his sabbatical, DiDonna walked 900 miles on pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan. — Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026 Greg Brockman, the cofounder and president of OpenAI, has been with Sam Altman for the startup’s entire history, including during Altman’s brief 2023 ousting as CEO, only taking a short sabbatical late last year. — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 25 July 2026 Almost no one can afford to take a sabbatical immediately, but make a plan for five to seven years from now and begin to budget and strategize to make the logistics work. — Dj Didonna, Time, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sabbatical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sabbatical
  1. vacation
  2. break
  3. furlough
  4. leave
  5. holiday
  6. liberty
Noun
  • In the tottering years, a bathing bird or blossoming flower will raise a thrill in you like only a game winning home run or a Disney World vacation used to.
    — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Even more, 69%, say a weeklong vacation is unaffordable, up from 60%.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of vacation
Noun
  • Daily Alerts Stay informed as soon as important news breaks around Washington DC and the entire world.
    — Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Alice Mushrooms Chocolate Discovery Set Alice mushroom chocolates are for the friend who tries every single wellness trend but also loves to indulge in a daily (or nightly) chocolate break.
    — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of break
Noun
  • Layoffs, unpaid staff furloughs and school closures probably are ahead as the leaders downsize operations.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Pilots, flight attendants and other aviation workers faced pay cuts and furloughs from the decrease in flyers.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of furlough
Noun
  • That specific stylist taught her a few techniques to style her hair, including using a dime-sized amount of gel with a quarter-sized amount of leave-in and running it through her curls.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 14 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, many trees suck up chlorophyll from their leaves, revealing yellow shades.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of leave
Noun
  • The plot follows a wealthy family whose lives fall apart after their young nanny disappears during a summer holiday and the family’s secrets and buried guilt rise to the surface.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • According to a synopsis from Hallmark, the movie — which filmed in Chicago over the summer — follows a freelance reporter who returns home to Chicago for some holiday downtime with her family before her next assignment.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of holiday
Noun
  • All year long, there’s been a lot of bellyaching over the creative liberties that Christopher Nolan (The Odyssey), Zach Cregger (Resident Evil) and the Lanterns team took with their respective adaptations.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • More broadly, expanding religious-liberty projections may increasingly come into tension with governmental efforts to enforce civil rights protections.
    — Preston Green III, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of liberty

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sabbatical
sabbaticals
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Cite this Entry

“Sabbatical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sabbatical. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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