Recreation: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to activities people do for enjoyment and relaxation, often while they are not working. Typically implies a wholesome, healthy activity.

• Hiking in the mountains is a great form of recreation
• The city offers many recreational facilities like parks and sports complexes

Refers to free time when people are not working or occupied and can relax. It encompasses a broader range of activities, including doing nothing at all.

• She enjoys reading books in her leisure time
• Taking walks in the park is one of his favorite leisure activities

Used for activities done regularly for enjoyment, often to pass the time. It usually implies a hobby or a habitual activity.

• Gardening is a popular pastime for many retirees
• Playing chess is a pastime that sharpens the mind

Used for activities that bring amusement or enjoyment, often involving performances or digital media. It usually implies a more structured or organized form of enjoyment.

• Watching movies is a popular form of entertainment
• The concert provided hours of entertainment for the audience

This word again emphasizes activities done for enjoyment and relaxation, just as in the first instance. It broadly covers leisurely pursuits.

• Fishing is a form of recreation that many find relaxing
• During the holidays, recreation often takes the form of outdoor adventures

This term is used to describe a facility where various organized activities are offered, often for children or families. It often emphasizes structured programs and events.

• The community activity center offers classes in arts and crafts
• Parents often take their children to the activity center for after-school programs

Commonly used in the UK, a leisure center generally refers to a community facility that offers recreational and fitness activities, such as swimming, gym workouts, and sports. Use this term when emphasizing facilities for physical exercise and wellness.

• The new leisure center in town has a swimming pool and a gym
• People often go to the leisure center to work out or attend fitness classes

Use to describe activities people do for enjoyment and relaxation during their free time.

• Playing soccer is a great form of recreation.
• The city park offers many recreational activities like hiking and swimming.

Refers to various treatments intended to heal or alleviate mental or physical conditions, often in a medical context.

• She goes to therapy to manage her anxiety.
• Physical therapy helped him recover from his knee surgery.

Usually refers to the process of helping someone recover from an injury, illness, or addiction to regain their normal life.

• After the accident, he went through months of physical rehabilitation.
• The rehabilitation center offers programs for those recovering from substance abuse.