pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm How to pronounce pastime (audio)
Synonyms of pastime
: something that amuses and serves to make time pass agreeably : diversion
Her favorite pastime is gardening.
Baseball has been a national pastime for many years.

Examples of pastime in a Sentence

Baseball has been a national pastime for years.
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.
As someone with a curvy, 5-foot-4 frame, shopping for a new pair of jeans is one of my least favorite pastimes. — Erika Reals, InStyle, 2 July 2026 Fishing in the Bahamas was reportedly a shared pastime. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 26 June 2026 At a time when loneliness and social isolation have become growing public health concerns, summer camp is not simply a summer pastime. — Lauren Barr, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 Walks along the coastline, mountain hikes, biking, kayaking and canoeing and narrated boat cruises are all favorite pastimes at Acadia. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pastime

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pastime was in the 15th century

Rhymes for pastime

See All Rhymes for pastime

Browse Nearby Words

pastille
pastime
pastina
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pastime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastime. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pastime

noun
pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm How to pronounce pastime (audio)
: something that helps to make time pass agreeably

More from Merriam-Webster on pastime

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pastime

Nglish: Translation of pastime for Spanish Speakers

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