mealtime

noun

meal·​time ˈmēl-ˌtīm 

variants or less commonly meal time

plural mealtimes also meal times

: the time when a meal is eaten

Take one pill at mealtime.

also : a usual or expected time for eating a meal

The two children have different mealtimes.

If … there's another hour left before your meal time, consider a small snack.

—Max Pemberton and Courtney Raspin

Examples of mealtime in a Sentence

Take one pill at mealtime.

The two children have different mealtimes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Those studies included adults who had never used insulin, those who’d used once- or twice-daily basal insulin, and those who’d been treated with basal insulin and insulin at mealtimes. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 25 Sep. 2026

This bronze centerpiece adds a soft glow to mealtime conversations with an assortment of vessels for various-sized candles. — Madison Yauger, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

The ample kitchen sports two islands with blush-colored marble countertops, and there are two separate dining areas for mealtimes. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2026

The result is food that supports your dog's nutritional needs and is delicious enough to keep tails wagging at mealtime. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mealtime

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• meantime
• nighttime
• noontime

Kids Definition

mealtime

noun

meal·​time ˈmēl-ˌtīm 

: the usual time at which a meal is served