pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm How to pronounce pastime (audio)
Synonyms of pastimenext
: something that amuses and serves to make time pass agreeably : diversion
Her favorite pastime is gardening.
Baseball has been a national pastime for many years.

Examples of pastime in a Sentence

Baseball has been a national pastime for years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Though baseball may technically be the national pastime, the Super Bowl is our, well, Super Bowl — and the Spanish-language rapper doesn’t fit within such an American institution, these detractors argue. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026 It’s estimated Sonny was 10 to 15 years old, and his favorite pastime was intentionally running into people. Mark Price january 29, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026 His favorite pastime in London was strolling around leafy Richmond Park, lost in his thoughts, or reading history books. Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026 Defacing the posters became a civic pastime. Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pastime

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pastime was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pastime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastime. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

pastime

noun
pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm How to pronounce pastime (audio)
: something that helps to make time pass agreeably

More from Merriam-Webster on pastime

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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