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

According to Schaffer, just as surreal as directing the former president was chatting with him during the downtime of the four-hour shoot. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026

Heavy-duty trucking focus The company expects the new service to help fleets lower diesel consumption, reduce operating costs, and minimize driver downtime through on-site fueling. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026

After decompressing back in Jersey for the summer, where Springsteen spent a lot of his downtime at the Stone Pony and other Asbury Park hotspots, another run of shows was booked for the fall. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026

Microneedling stimulates your own collagen with minimal downtime, while a series of light to medium chemical peels can brighten the complexion, improve texture and help fade residual summer discoloration. — Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 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