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

Skiing is both a beloved pastime and a lifestyle throughout Europe, which means choosing a destination for a transatlantic ski trip can be a dizzying experience. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025

Outside of politics, in what stands for culture, America’s favorite national pastimes seem to be gambling, weed, gaming, and Joe Rogan. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2025

Stargazers hoping to catch a closer glimpse at Jupiter and its moons should check out our roundups of the best telescopes for viewing the night sky, while those new to the pastime may want to peruse our roundup of the best smartphone astronomy apps for navigating the post sunset realm. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025

Dreaming was a new pastime in a country long considered fatalistic. —Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025

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