downtime

noun

down·​time ˈdau̇n-ˌtīm 

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

• layoff
• time-out
• winter

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

Therefore, respect your need for some privacy and downtime. —Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2025

Imagine an oil rig that detects safety threats in real time, a factory that predicts downtime at a fraction of the cost, or a wind farm that maximizes output across every turbine. —Amir Husain, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025

Operators receive instant alerts on machinery performance, minimizing downtime and reducing unexpected failures. —Oleg Fonarov, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

For your downtime Going out 🏜️ A non-hiker’s guide to Death Valley — what to do, see and eat in the charming towns nearby. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for downtime

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime
• noontime