Leisure vocabulary covers the words and phrases we use to talk about free time, hobbies, relaxation, and entertainment. This topic helps you describe what you like to do when you’re not working or studying.
Free Time
Free time vocabulary helps you talk about the time you have away from work or other responsibilities.
| English | Part of Speech | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| free time | noun | I like to read during my free time. |
| spare time | noun | What do you do in your spare time? |
| pastime | noun | My favorite pastime is painting. |
| downtime | noun | I use my downtime to relax. |
| break | noun | I took a short break from studying. |
| weekend | noun | We went hiking over the weekend. |
| holiday | noun | I’m going to the beach for the holiday. |
| schedule | noun | My schedule is busy this week. |
| relax | verb | I relax by listening to music. |
| unwind | verb | I unwind with a good book. |
Free time is the period when you’re not working or busy. Words like free time, spare time, and pastime refer to this period and the activities you do. Downtime and break are shorter rest periods. Weekend and holiday are specific free times. Relax and unwind are actions you do to feel calm.
Hobbies
Hobbies are activities you do regularly for enjoyment.
| English | Part of Speech | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| hobby | noun | Gardening is my favorite hobby. |
| collect | verb | She collects stamps from around the world. |
| craft | noun/verb | I enjoy making crafts on the weekend. |
| paint | verb | He likes to paint landscapes. |
| knit | verb | My grandmother can knit scarves. |
| play (an instrument) | verb phrase | I play the guitar. |
| write | verb | She writes short stories in her journal. |
| garden | verb | We garden together on Saturdays. |
| cook | verb | Cooking is a fun hobby for me. |
| photograph | verb | He likes to photograph nature. |
Hobbies are the fun activities people choose to do in their free time. Common hobbies include painting, knitting, playing an instrument, and cooking. The verb collect is used for gathering items like stamps or coins. You can use craft as both a noun and a verb.
Entertainment
Entertainment vocabulary includes things we watch, listen to, or enjoy for fun.
| English | Part of Speech | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| movie | noun | We watched a movie last night. |
| music | noun | I listen to music every day. |
| concert | noun | I’m going to a concert tomorrow. |
| game | noun | Let’s play a board game. |
| show | noun | The new TV show is really popular. |
| book | noun | She’s reading a mystery book. |
| theater | noun | We went to the theater to see a play. |
| dance | noun/verb | They went out to dance. / I love to dance. |
| sing | verb | She can sing beautifully. |
| podcast | noun | I listen to podcasts on the subway. |
Entertainment includes activities and events that are fun to watch or listen to, like movies, concerts, and theater. People also enjoy playing games, reading books, and watching shows. Dance and sing can be either nouns or verbs, depending on how you use them. Podcasts are a popular form of audio entertainment.
If you want to see a live performance of music, what event do you attend?
concert
A 'concert' is a live musical performance, while 'theater' is typically for plays, 'game' for sports, and 'dance' for dancing activities.
Social Activities
Social activities are things you do with other people in your free time.
| English | Part of Speech | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| hang out | phrasal verb | We like to hang out at the park. |
| meet up | phrasal verb | Let’s meet up for coffee. |
| party | noun/verb | They threw a big party. / We partied all night. |
| chat | verb | I chatted with my friends online. |
| invite | verb | She invited me to her birthday party. |
| group | noun | I joined a hiking group. |
| date | noun/verb | They went on a date. / He asked her out on a date. |
| go out | phrasal verb | We’re going out to dinner. |
| social | adjective | I’m a social person and enjoy meeting new people. |
| friend | noun | I met a new friend at the concert. |
Social activities involve spending time with other people. Common expressions include hang out, meet up, and go out. You can chat online or in person. Party can be a noun (the event) or a verb (what you do). Invite is what you do when you ask someone to join you. Date can also be a noun or a verb.
If you want to see a friend and spend time together, you might say, 'Let’s ____ up later.' What is the missing phrase?
meet
'Meet up' means to get together with someone, often at a specific time and place.
Sports & Exercise
Sports and exercise vocabulary helps you talk about staying active during your free time.
| English | Part of Speech | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| sport | noun | Soccer is a popular sport worldwide. |
| exercise | noun/verb | I do exercise every morning. |
| workout | noun | My workout lasts for 30 minutes. |
| jog | verb | I jog around the park. |
| swim | verb | She swims in the community pool. |
| team | noun | Our team won the game. |
| match | noun | The match was very exciting. |
| gym | noun | I go to the gym after work. |
| coach | noun | The coach gave us great tips. |
| stretch | verb | Remember to stretch before exercising. |
Sports and exercise are common ways to stay healthy and have fun. You can talk about any sport, such as soccer or tennis. Exercise and workout refer to physical activity. Jog, swim, and stretch are specific actions. A team plays together, and a match is a game or competition. The gym is a common place to work out, and a coach helps you improve.
Where do people often go to do weightlifting, use machines, or take fitness classes?
gym
A 'gym' is a place equipped for exercise and fitness training.
Travel & Outdoor Activities
Travel and outdoor activities vocabulary covers things you do outside or when you go on trips.
| English | Part of Speech | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| travel | verb | I love to travel to new countries. |
| trip | noun | We took a trip to the mountains. |
| hike | verb/noun | They went to hike in the forest. |
| camp | verb/noun | We camped by the lake last weekend. |
| beach | noun | The beach is my favorite place to relax. |
| picnic | noun/verb | We had a picnic in the park. |
| sightseeing | noun | Sightseeing is fun when you visit a new city. |
| explore | verb | Let’s explore the old town tomorrow. |
| guide | noun | The tour guide was very informative. |
| backpack | noun/verb | I backpacked through Europe last summer. |
Travel and outdoor activities are popular ways to spend leisure time. Travel and trip refer to going somewhere new. You can hike, camp, or have a picnic outdoors. The beach is a common destination for relaxation. Sightseeing means visiting tourist spots. To explore is to discover new places. A guide helps travelers, and backpacking means traveling with a backpack, usually on a budget.
Relaxation
Relaxation vocabulary helps you describe how you calm down and rest.
| English | Part of Speech | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| relax | verb | I relax by taking deep breaths. |
| unwind | verb | Meditation helps me unwind after work. |
| rest | noun/verb | I need some rest this afternoon. |
| calm | adjective/verb | The music makes me feel calm. / I try to calm my mind. |
| meditate | verb | She meditates every morning. |
| sleep | noun/verb | Getting enough sleep is important. |
| nap | noun/verb | I took a short nap after lunch. |
| breathe | verb | Breathe slowly to reduce stress. |
| comfort | noun/verb | I find comfort in a warm bath. |
| stress | noun/verb | Exercise helps reduce stress. |
Relaxation is important for feeling good and staying healthy. You can relax, unwind, or rest. Calm describes a peaceful state, and you can also use it as a verb. Meditate is a common relaxation practice. Getting enough sleep or taking a nap helps your body recover. Breathe slowly to feel better. Comfort can be a noun or a verb, and stress is what you want to reduce.
What verb means to stop working and rest your body and mind?
relax
'Relax' means to become less active or tense, allowing your body and mind to rest.
Technology & Media
Technology and media vocabulary helps you talk about using devices and content during your leisure time.
| English | Part of Speech | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| smartphone | noun | I use my smartphone to play games. |
| internet | noun | I watch videos on the internet. |
| app | noun | There’s a new app for learning languages. |
| social media | noun | She spends a lot of time on social media. |
| video game | noun | He plays video games after school. |
| stream | verb | We stream movies online. |
| download | verb | I downloaded a new podcast. |
| website | noun | This website has great travel tips. |
| chat | verb | We chat with friends on messaging apps. |
| online | adverb/adjective | I take online yoga classes. |
Many people use technology and media during their leisure time. A smartphone is a common device. The internet lets you watch videos, play games, and use apps. Social media is popular for connecting with friends. You can stream movies or download podcasts. A website provides information, and you can chat online. Online means using the internet for an activity.
Summary
Here are the main categories of leisure vocabulary in English:
- Free Time: Words for talking about your available time and rest.
- Hobbies: Common activities people do for fun.
- Entertainment: Things you watch, listen to, or enjoy.
- Social Activities: Spending time with others.
- Sports & Exercise: Staying active and healthy.
- Travel & Outdoor Activities: Exploring and enjoying nature.
- Relaxation: Ways to calm down and rest.
- Technology & Media: Using devices and online content.
You can use these words to describe your free time, make plans, and talk about what you enjoy doing.
Flashcards (1 of 80)
- Part of Speech: noun
- Example Sentence: I like to read during my free time.
- English: free time
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
