screen time
noun
1
: the amount of time someone or something appears on screen in a movie or television show
… the widespread practice of product placement (in which companies buy screen time for their brands) …—
Celia Wren
Celia WrenPeck's role is only a cameo—23 minutes of screen time scattered through six and a half hours of edited film …—John Skow
John Skow2
: time spent watching television, playing a video game, or using an electronic device with a screen (such as a smartphone or tablet)
Concerns about children spending too much time on digital devices—'screen time'—and becoming overdependent on these devices are very real for many teachers and parents.—Nicky Hockly
Nicky HocklyIf yours is like most American families with kids under age 5, your child probably watches between three and four hours of television a day. That's a lot of screen time …—Debra Kent
Debra KentExamples of screen time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fans and critics have picked apart the trailers, grousing about the heavy screen time for Krypto the Superdog (inspired by Gunn’s own dog, who is also a foot biter), or how actor David Corenswet, who plays the iconic superhero, is a relative unknown.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
This team favorite keeps your fitness goals on track—and, for many of us, it’s helped reduce screen time by cutting the need to constantly check our phones.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 10 July 2025
Eliminating late-afternoon caffeine and swapping evening screen time for reading before bed significantly boosted my sleep quality, energy levels and overall mood — without any hormone therapy.
—Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
But some have raised safety concerns, highlighting that bans could prevent students from contacting family members during an emergency, and argue that promoting healthier device use could better teach children to manage their screen time.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for screen time
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.
Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
This team favorite keeps your fitness goals on track—and, for many of us, it’s helped reduce screen time by cutting the need to constantly check our phones.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 10 July 2025
Eliminating late-afternoon caffeine and swapping evening screen time for reading before bed significantly boosted my sleep quality, energy levels and overall mood — without any hormone therapy.
—Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
But some have raised safety concerns, highlighting that bans could prevent students from contacting family members during an emergency, and argue that promoting healthier device use could better teach children to manage their screen time.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for screen time
Cite this Entry
“Screen time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screen%20time. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share