Leisure Meaning
/ˈlɛʒə(ɹ)/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounFreedom provided by the cessation of activities.
nounFree time, time free from work or duties.
Sentence Examples
In her leisure time, she enjoys swimming and tennis.
The more leisure he has, the happier he is.
These days we have more money and more leisure to enjoy it.
CEFR Practice Quiz
During her free time on weekends, she prefers ____ activities such as reading and hiking.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In my ____ time, I enjoy reading books and playing the piano to relax after a long and busy day at work.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English leyser, from Anglo-Norman leisir, variant of Old French loisir (“to enjoy oneself”) (Modern French loisir survives as a noun), substantive use of a verb, from Latin licēre (“be permitted”). Displaced native Old English ǣmetta.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The desire of leisure is much more natural than of business and care."
— 1672, William Temple, An Essay Upon the Original and Nature of Government:
"Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined when they first came into Devonshire, that so many engagements would arise to occupy their time as shortly presented themselves, or that they should have such frequent invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little leisure for serious employment."
— 1811, [Jane Austen], chapter 11, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:
"This is why the mathematical arts were founded in Egypt; for there the priestly caste was allowed to be at leisure."
— 1908, Aristotle, translated by William David Ross, Metaphysics:
"He sigh'd, and had no leisure more to say."
— 1717, John Dryden [et al.], “(please specify |book=I to XV)”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
During her free time on weekends, she prefers ____ activities such as reading and hiking.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In my ____ time, I enjoy reading books and playing the piano to relax after a long and busy day at work.