downtime

noun

ˈdau̇n-ˌtīm How to pronounce downtime (audio)
Definition of downtimenext
as in winter
a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness a knee operation that could result in months of downtime for the ski racer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of downtime There may be operational downtime, legal exposure, insurance consequences and reputational damage. — Sami Nomair, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Teammates appreciated Suzuki’s ability to shift between being serious about his craft to being goofy during all the downtime of a long season. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 By shifting more functionality into the target, FLARE is designed to enable a simpler, more robust driver, reducing component stress, maintenance and downtime. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026 If that holds up in real-world use, flight schools could squeeze in more than six sorties per aircraft each day, without the downtime of refueling a gas tank. — New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for downtime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downtime
  1. winter
  2. break
Noun
  • Perennials Many perennials offer colorful flowers during the growing season, but a select group creates both color and desirable food for birds in the winter.
    — Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • An energy truce between Ukraine and Russia could help to alleviate the oil and gas crunch ahead of winter.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of winter
Noun
  • The prototype was tested on one construction worker during normal activities, including movement, breaks, drinking water and eating.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Sandy Powell, who is in the film, became a celebrated costume designer, and one of her first breaks was through Derek’s films.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of break

Browse Nearby Words

down the line
downtime
downtimes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downtime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downtime. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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