as in winters
a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness
a knee operation that could result in months of downtime for the ski racer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downtimes
The average response time for phone calls dropped to 6 minutes from 30 minutes in the prior fiscal year; field office wait times decreased to 23 minutes; and removal of online service downtimes has benefited an additional 125,000 users in a single week, according to the agency's findings.
—
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downtimes
Noun
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The state also experienced one of its warmest winters on record, contributing to one of the worst mid-winter snowpacks in decades.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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For example, rats can be found in countless places that experience bitter winters.—
Jason Bittel,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Baked goods and snacks manufacturer Maker’s Pride notified the state of mass layoffs at its Boise factory next to the Boise Factory Outlet near Interstate 84.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
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Consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the US economy, is more influenced by the state of the labor market; specifically, whether layoffs are rising more than usual or not.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Jeep driver slammed on the breaks and reversed, crashing into the front of Acosta’s patrol car and sped off, leaving the gate pieces on the road.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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During one of the day’s breaks, Tappin won a gift bag, including a flat iron, after answering a question correctly.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Referring to the decline in permits approved, ECMC Director Julie Murphy said there were lulls as everyone adjusted course.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
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Acting in a movie involves a lot of waiting around, too—as the crew repositions cameras and adjusts the lighting, among other things—and those lulls provided me with plenty of time to feel queasy with anxiety.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Set boundaries around interruptions and keep promises practical.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
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Last week, Orbán, who is widely seen as the Kremlin’s biggest advocate in the EU, blocked a 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine over the interruptions and vowed to veto any further pro-Ukraine decisions until oil flows resume.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downtimes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downtimes. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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