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

Synonyms of downtime

• winter
• break

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

Under extreme conditions, the system supplies nearly 800 kWh in 18 minutes to keep fleet downtime to a minimum. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026

My downtime is sacred territory, and the right tech turns it into a downright art form. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026

When the players had downtime, many checked out what the city has to offer. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026

The industry often talks about cyberattacks in financial terms—costs, losses, downtime, recovery expenses. — Tony Kirtley, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for downtime

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