pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm 

: 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

Sometimes, recreational pastimes grow in popularity right alongside their corresponding fashion. — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2026

Somehow, the only other pastimes the Alphas participate in are picnicking and badminton. — Cortlyn Kelly, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026

When tennis became a national pastime with its own fashion language, Women’s Wear Daily made sure its readers stayed current on the players, games and fans shaping the moment. — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026

According to folklore, as with many of the United Kingdom’s more bizarre sports and pastimes, the idea to jump into the bog and snorkel was conceived after a few ales in a local pub. — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pastime

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

Kids Definition

pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm 

: something that helps to make time pass agreeably