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.
Some pastimes are distractions, some are distortions, and some few are true distillations—refining a city or a place or a community to its essence, deliciously sipped by all. Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 June 2026 Nails that mimic a pool's wavy, watery light are a huge trend for summer, as are designs that celebrate the timeless pastime of swimming. Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 19 June 2026 The sport once dismissed as a backyard pastime for older players has exploded into the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the fifth consecutive year, pulling in Gen Z, millennials and multigenerational families along the way. Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026 Once dismissed as a retirement-community pastime, pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the fifth consecutive year, pulling in Gen Z, millennials and multigenerational families along the way. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 18 June 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

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Cite this Entry

“Pastime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastime. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

pastime

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

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