downtime

noun

down·​time ˈdau̇n-ˌtīm 

1

: time during which production is stopped especially during setup for an operation or when making repairs

2

: inactive time (such as time between periods of work)

napping during our downtime

an injured athlete facing months of downtime

Synonyms of downtime

• winter
• break

Examples of downtime in a Sentence

After a busy day at work, I look forward to some downtime at home.

The kids napped during their downtime.

We need to minimize network downtime.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Lakers, led by 41-year-old James and 32-year-old Marcus Smart, looked especially desperate for the extra downtime. —Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026

Throughout the movie, Michael voices his admiration for the novel's Neverland setting a number of times in his downtime from writing and performing music. —Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026

Each matching set is crafted from soft, breathable fabrics that are easy to care for and comfortable enough for travel or downtime. —Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2026

Combined with rapid reload capability, the system allows crews to sustain continuous operations with minimal downtime. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for downtime

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime
• noontime