downtime

noun

down·​time ˈdau̇n-ˌtīm How to pronounce downtime (audio)
Synonyms of downtimenext
1
: time during which production is stopped especially during setup for an operation or when making repairs
2
: inactive time (such as time between periods of work)
napping during our downtime
an injured athlete facing months of downtime

Synonyms of downtime

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Examples of downtime in a Sentence

After a busy day at work, I look forward to some downtime at home. The kids napped during their downtime. We need to minimize network downtime.
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.
Still, several council members acknowledged there was a cost involved with the moratorium, particularly for trade workers who lose out on construction jobs during the downtime. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026 Zoomlion’s research and development team in China worked remotely with engineers in Türkiye to diagnose issues and support maintenance, aiming to limit downtime. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026 That downtime consists of school drop-offs, volunteering for lunch duty at his kids’ school, coaching his son’s flag-football team and honing his skills on the grill. — Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2026 The frack happening beneath us was about half as deep as Mount Everest is high, in a section of oil-rich rock that used to be considered out of reach; other innovations allow for simultaneous fracks, minimizing downtime. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for downtime

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of downtime was in 1928

Rhymes for downtime

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Browse Nearby Words

downtick
downtime
down to
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Cite this Entry

“Downtime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downtime. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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