prime time

noun

|Updated on: 14 Jul 2018

Examples: prime time in a Sentence

Definition of prime time

1 : the time period when the television or radio audience is the largest; also : television shows shown in prime time

2 : the choicest or busiest time

3 : big time 2

a pitcher not yet ready for prime time

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prime-time

play \ˈprīm-ˌtīm\ adjective

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See prime time defined for kids

Examples of prime time in a Sentence

The program is being shown during prime time.
He's the best actor in prime time.

Recent Examples of prime time from the Web

Meanwhile Trump is planning to announce his candidate to replace Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy via a prime time TV special tonight.

— recode staff, Recode, "Recode Daily: Today’s daily deal: Groupon wants to sell itself," 9 July 2018
Trump, who plans to unveil his pick during prime time on Monday, is focusing on four judges: Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Thomas Hardiman and Raymond Kethledge.

— deirdre shesgreen, USA TODAY, "In Missouri Senate race, GOP contender wants to put Supreme Court fight center stage," 9 July 2018
The restaurants can fill up quickly at prime time with tourists and bankers, but just put your name down at either of the restaurants, then hit up the bar in that stunning lobby for liquid destressing supplied by Temple Court.

— Bon Appetit, "The Beekman Hotel," 25 June 2018
After nearly five years, the Phillies were back in the prime time.

— nick tricome, Philly.com, "Where the current lineup was the last time the Phillies were on 'Sunday Night Baseball'," 25 June 2018
Despite their involvement in the music, the Jackson Estate is currently at odds with ABC and The Walt Disney Company over the network’s recent prime time special The Last Days of Michael Jackson.

— jordan runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "Michael Jackson Broadway Musical Slated for 2020, Featuring the King of Pop's Songs," 19 June 2018
Cable: The top channels in prime time for the week were Fox News Channel with 2.425 million viewers, MSNBC with 1.648 million, HGTV with 1.404 million, USA with 1.357 million and TBS with 1.117 million.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "NBA Finals deliver weekly win for ABC," 12 June 2018
Skip Sunday brunch buffets: In many kitchens, the A team works Friday and Saturday nights because that’s prime time.

— matt pepin, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Skip Sunday brunch buffets’ and other lessons from Anthony Bourdain," 8 June 2018
Plus, there's no way a pay-per-view fight works from England because that means the fight would broadcast live into the States at 5 p.m. That's far from prime time.

— branson wright, cleveland.com, "Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder negotiate mega bout; Boxing Report 2018 (photos)," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prime time.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of prime time

1947

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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PRIME TIME Defined for English Language Learners

prime time

noun

Definition of prime time for English Language Learners

: the time in the evening when the largest number of people are watching television
: the television shows that are on during prime time
: the highest or most difficult level of use