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 approach reinforces Ecolab’s commitment to delivering measurable impact, whether through water conservation, energy efficiency or operational downtime.
—
Peter High, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Worth Your Time Great business-adjacent reads for your downtime or commute:
My colleague Damon Sayles made the short trip from Dallas to Bells, Texas, to see first-hand the replica of Fenway Park built for wiffle ball.
—Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 18 June 2025
During these voyages, which tended to include a lot of downtime, White might have told the other crew members his story.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025
The entire process took about 40 minutes, and unlike more aggressive resurfacing lasers, Secret DUO doesn’t damage the outer layer of skin, so there’s minimal downtime and no risk of flaking or scabbing.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for downtime
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Peter High, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Worth Your Time Great business-adjacent reads for your downtime or commute:
My colleague Damon Sayles made the short trip from Dallas to Bells, Texas, to see first-hand the replica of Fenway Park built for wiffle ball.
—Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 18 June 2025
During these voyages, which tended to include a lot of downtime, White might have told the other crew members his story.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025
The entire process took about 40 minutes, and unlike more aggressive resurfacing lasers, Secret DUO doesn’t damage the outer layer of skin, so there’s minimal downtime and no risk of flaking or scabbing.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for downtime
Cite this Entry
“Downtime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downtime. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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