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

• layoff
• time-out
• winter

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

Viper is a blazingly fast melee attacker that gives you very little downtime between rotations, while Pictomancer is a fascinating approach to a magic job that gives you a wealth of options to approach combat situations. —Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 12 July 2024

The pair strike up a friendship and then a romance during their downtime in the strange, almost otherworldly location of the athlete’s village. —John Ortved, Vogue, 11 July 2024

Brittany and Patrick have been making the most of some downtime before the Chiefs begin their training camp on July 21 in Kansas City. —Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 10 July 2024

For your downtime Going out 🍣 Here are the best places to eat and drink in L.A. this month, according to our food writers. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1