✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

showtime

noun

show·​time ˈshō-ˌtīm How to pronounce showtime (audio)
: the scheduled or actual time at which a show or something likened to a show begins

Examples of showtime in a Sentence

We have five minutes until showtime. Showtime is in five minutes.
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.
The new video follows Ball Park Music from soundcheck through to showtime, capturing the emotional and technical build-up before the house lights drop. Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 24 Nov. 2025 But two hours before showtime, news of Seely’s death rippled through Music City. Nashville Tennessean, 23 Nov. 2025 For the best seats, arrive at the Walt Disney Theater around 20 minutes before showtime. Carly Caramanna, Parents, 20 Nov. 2025 As showtime drew near, a woman came into the lobby to buy a pair of $10 gift certificates for a future night out. John Carlisle, Freep.com, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for showtime

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of showtime was in 1893

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Showtime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/showtime. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

showtime

noun
show·​time ˈshō-ˌtīm How to pronounce showtime (audio)
: the scheduled or actual time at which a show or something likened to a show begins
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!