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

And some airports can turn the often necessary downtime into an experience worthy of the stop. —Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026

But White and Borsari have also been planning out the programming that will fill the downtime between fights. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026

Prolonged downtime could force him to backtrack in his progression. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026

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