pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm How to pronounce pastime (audio)
: 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 Horseback Riding Horseback riding is a quintessentially Montana pastime that can be enjoyed any time of year. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023 Binge-watching, America’s new favorite pastime, has become more expensive than ever. Todd Spangler, Variety, 8 Nov. 2023 And his love of golf is helping to break barriers, with rappers like 2 Chainz and Offset among the celebrities following Khaled’s lead and getting more involved in the historically stuffy, white pastime. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2023 The two friends are in a wagon, plummeting perilously forward into the unseen—a common pastime for them. Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023 Little did the jumpers know that their playful prank would inspire a popular pastime around the world. Alex Williams, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023 And some fans are starting to worry that the relationship between America’s pastime and on-field statistics has gone too far. Camilo Fonseca, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2023 Advertisement Thrilled with the taste and quality of his creations, Lantry decided to grow his pastime into a full-fledged business where guests can see how his dark, bitter-free treats are made, step by step. Roxana Becerril, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023 Listening to music is another of his constant pastimes. Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pastime.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near pastime

Cite this Entry

“Pastime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastime. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

pastime

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