kill (the) time
idiom
informal
: to spend time doing something while one is waiting
We killed time watching the sailboats on the river.
We killed the time between trains playing video games.
Examples of kill (the) time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even the boring parts—watching people kill time, waiting around to play or for inspiration to strike—seem freighted with possibility.
—
Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
Coming along for the ride, seemingly at her insistence, is boyfriend Owen (Hemsworth), definitely a guy not on the intellectual level of the others but instead a plus-one who clearly feels awkward in this company, left to his own devices to kill the time.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2024
In the sprawling food court, travelers feast on döner kebab or kill time at Kaimakk with a cup of black coffee traditionally prepared in hot sand.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2024
The lot will be on your right on Josh Birmingham Parkway next to Long Term Lot 1.
Go deeper: Definitive guide to CLT Airport — Where to eat, how to kill time and skip lines
Direct flights from Charlotte
Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect that Long Term Lot 2 is drive-up only.
—Ashley Mahoney, Axios, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kill (the) time 
Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
Coming along for the ride, seemingly at her insistence, is boyfriend Owen (Hemsworth), definitely a guy not on the intellectual level of the others but instead a plus-one who clearly feels awkward in this company, left to his own devices to kill the time.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2024
In the sprawling food court, travelers feast on döner kebab or kill time at Kaimakk with a cup of black coffee traditionally prepared in hot sand.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2024
The lot will be on your right on Josh Birmingham Parkway next to Long Term Lot 1.
Go deeper: Definitive guide to CLT Airport — Where to eat, how to kill time and skip lines
Direct flights from Charlotte
Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect that Long Term Lot 2 is drive-up only.
—Ashley Mahoney, Axios, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kill (the) time
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kill (the) time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near kill (the) time
Cite this Entry
“Kill (the) time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kill%20%28the%29%20time. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share