pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm 

: 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

The group, loosely led by inquisitive ginger breed Lily (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and good-natured merino Mopple (Chris O’Dowd) enjoy a peaceful existence, with their favorite pastimes consisting of laying in the grass and listening to George read a nightly murder mystery story. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 8 May 2026

But fast-forward to the present day and skateboarding has become a popular pastime with plenty of newbies learning to skate. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

Once a childhood pastime, card collecting has evolved into a high-stakes global market that's become lucrative for enthusiasts and appealing to counterfeiters. —Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 May 2026

The pending storm is already making an impact on America's favorite summer pastime -- baseball. —Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 4 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pastime

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime

Kids Definition

pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm 

: something that helps to make time pass agreeably