pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm 

: 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

In addition to enjoying high-octane activities such as hiking, zip-lining, rock climbing, water skiing, and fitness and dance classes, guests can also focus on finding their zen with low-impact pastimes like yoga, wine-and-paint classes or reading by the lake. —Robin Roenker, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026

One of our favorite pastimes became going on drives and window shopping for homes. —Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 31 Mar. 2026

And rather than automating human chess masters or destroying the sport and pastime, chess-playing AI models have helped the business of chess to boom. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2026

The two deals highlight the increasing allure of India’s national pastime among international investors looking to be part of the most popular sport in the world’s populous country. —Chetan Narula, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pastime

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

Kids Definition

pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm 

: something that helps to make time pass agreeably