downtime

noun

down·​time ˈdau̇n-ˌtīm How to pronounce downtime (audio)
Synonyms of downtimenext
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The reliability of mobile apps (minimal downtime, crashes, lags), saw significant gains. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 16 June 2026 Swift and Kelce's theater date comes as the couple continues to enjoy downtime together following a busy year that included the singer's record-breaking Eras Tour and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end's most recent NFL season. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026 The Uptime Institute's industry analysis shows that misconfigurations of core network services lead to performance problems and downtime. Scott Fulton, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 For many students, that downtime is healthy and necessary. Ted Hoskinson, Sun Sentinel, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for downtime

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of downtime was in 1928

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Cite this Entry

“Downtime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downtime. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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