pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm How to pronounce pastime (audio)
: something that amuses and serves to make time pass agreeably : diversion
Her favorite pastime is gardening.
Baseball has been a national pastime for many years.

Examples of pastime in a Sentence

Baseball has been a national pastime for years.
Recent Examples on the Web Participate in one of the area's favorite fall pastimes — apple picking — with a visit to Hilltop Orchards. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024 Obsessive kitchen organization is among social media’s favorite pastimes, and plastic storage containers in every conceivable size and shape play an outsize role in the super-popular videos depicting spotless, abundant refrigerators and pantries on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pastime 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pastime.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pastime was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near pastime

Cite this Entry

“Pastime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastime. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

pastime

noun
pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm How to pronounce pastime (audio)
: something that helps to make time pass agreeably
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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