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

This capability minimizes downtime and enables continuous 24/7 operation, improving equipment utilization and productivity. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026

Unbeknownst to Anthony, the entire experience is staged, every colleague around him is performing a role, and each moment – whether in conference rooms or during downtime – has been meticulously orchestrated. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 June 2026

This closes the execution gap, enabling resilient, self-healing, auto-adapting workflows that optimize performance, reduce downtime and maintain SLA-critical operations. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Iced coffee in hand, Bella enjoyed some downtime on the water in a teeny-tiny pink crochet bikini in photos shared to Instagram. —Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 30 May 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