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
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
Advancing life safety and integrating systems At the performance center, Honeywell’s fire-detection system will feature a self-testing function to help reduce operating costs and downtime.
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Charlotte Observer, 12 Dec. 2025
Group activities matter, but so does solo downtime.
—Taylor Haught, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Dec. 2025
At the end of the day, these capabilities are able to help cut downtime and lower the risks tied to human mistakes or equipment failures.
—K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
The striped finish adds subtle texture for elevated downtime.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downtime
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Charlotte Observer, 12 Dec. 2025
Group activities matter, but so does solo downtime.
—Taylor Haught, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Dec. 2025
At the end of the day, these capabilities are able to help cut downtime and lower the risks tied to human mistakes or equipment failures.
—K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
The striped finish adds subtle texture for elevated downtime.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downtime
Cite this Entry
“Downtime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downtime. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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