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

The company says this could improve system visibility while reducing downtime, warranty exposure, and costs associated with maintenance and battery augmentation. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026

Instead, quantify them against the business cost of downtime. — Maman Ibrahim, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Apart from physical injury, continuous competition without mental downtime frequently leads to early psychological burnout and eventual dropouts. — Michael Swartzon, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

More players worked out at Halas Hall during the downtime than Poles had seen before. — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 8 Sep. 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