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

• 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

The downtime will mean a temporary reduction in staffing levels of about 700 employees at the plant being laid off. —Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025

Starting Friday, there will be no poolside downtime at Bethpage Black, an angry and outsized beast of a public golf course. —Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025

The downtime will mean a temporary reduction in staffing levels of about 700 employees at the plant being laid off. —Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 24 Sep. 2025

Athletes at that level typically spend any downtime engaged in fundraising activities to sustain and support their dream. —Kerry Brown, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

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