Although leisure plays a significant role in older adults' lives, little is known about the meaning of leisure for this population. Thus, the purpose of this grounded theory study was to conceptualize the meaning of leisure for older adults in a continuing care retirement community. Theoretical sampling included 40 retirement home residents of Dutch heritage living in a suburban, midwestern area of the United States. Data collection consisted of participant observation and intensive interviews, and data analysis involved constant comparison method. This method facilitated development of a conceptual model of authoring leisure. The model of authoring leisure highlights older adults' definition of leisure, strategies used to author leisure, and the consequence of authoring leisure. The resulting conceptual refinement of leisure facilitates validation of leisure-related nursing diagnoses and provides empirically based knowledge for gerontological nursing practice.