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
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 Syrn founder—who has been enjoying some downtime after finishing up her three-season run on Euphoria—recently stepped out to support the New York Knicks at the 2026 NBA Finals game on June 13.
—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
For example, a bad production rollout can trigger customer-facing downtime; an overly permissive IAM change can increase the blast radius of a security breach; and a networking change can break inter-service communication.
—
Raman Varma,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
And remember, not every moment of your child’s day needs to be booked up with an activity—there are benefits to downtime and even boredom.
—
Anna Earl,
Parents,
27 June 2026
Its quick-release, tool-free battery system enables operators to swap batteries within seconds, minimizing downtime during industrial inspections, security patrols, and disaster response operations.
—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for downtime
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
For example, a bad production rollout can trigger customer-facing downtime; an overly permissive IAM change can increase the blast radius of a security breach; and a networking change can break inter-service communication.
—
Raman Varma,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
And remember, not every moment of your child’s day needs to be booked up with an activity—there are benefits to downtime and even boredom.
—
Anna Earl,
Parents,
27 June 2026
Its quick-release, tool-free battery system enables operators to swap batteries within seconds, minimizing downtime during industrial inspections, security patrols, and disaster response operations.
—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for downtime
Cite this Entry
“Downtime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downtime. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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