prime time

noun

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 sense 2

a pitcher not yet ready for prime time

prime-time

ˈprīm-ˌtīm 

adjective

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 on the Web

In global prime time, as top economies negotiate, not so much. —William Pesek, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

According to Variety citing Nielsen data, in 2024, there were only three cable networks that averaged more than one million viewers in prime time, Fox News, ESPN and MSNBC. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 24 June 2025

The Bears didn’t need to be ready for prime time in May or June. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025

The season is prime time for ice cream runs, lazy beach days, and wandering through fields of sunflowers in full, golden bloom. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 6 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prime time

• aforetime
• allozyme
• anytime
• christmastime
• cybercrime
• dinnertime
• guggenheim
• isozyme
• lysozyme
• maritime
• mesenchyme
• overtime

Kids Definition

prime time

noun

: the time in the evening when television has its largest number of viewers