prime time

noun

1
: the time period when the television or radio audience is the largest
also : television shows shown in prime time
2
: the choicest or busiest time
3
: big time sense 2
a pitcher not yet ready for prime time
prime-time adjective

Examples of prime time in a Sentence

The program is being shown during prime time. He's the best actor in prime time.
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.
While winter is the prime time for pruning most trees, keep your cutting tools handy for these essential summer pruning tasks: Cut dead, crossing, or rubbing branches back to a main branch or the trunk. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025 Derechos can happen any time of year, but July and early August are the prime time for this type of extreme weather, said Izzi. Isabella O'Malley, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025 From the Sports Desk Horse racing: Churchill Downs Inc. announced the Kentucky Oaks will for the first time ever be presented in prime time on NBC in 2026. Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 26 July 2025 Sidling up to Trump – and one last famous tearing of the shirt Perhaps Bollea’s last big public showing was a surprise appearance in prime time on the final night of last year’s Republican National Convention, ripping off his shirt to expose a red Trump-Vance tank top underneath. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for prime time

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prime time was in 1947

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Cite this Entry

“Prime time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prime%20time. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

prime time

noun
: the time in the evening when television has its largest number of viewers

More from Merriam-Webster on prime time

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