downtime
Americannoun
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a time during a regular working period when an employee is not actively productive.
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an interval during which a machine is not productive, as during repair, malfunction, maintenance.
noun
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commerce time during which a machine or plant is not working because it is incapable of production, as when under repair: the term is sometimes used to include all nonproductive time Compare idle time
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informal time spent not working; spare time
Etymology
Origin of downtime
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The folks at the retirement party were glad that he would finally get some well-deserved downtime, but they were also wistful.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
In his downtime he would travel by horse and buggy across Pennsylvania and neighboring states with what he called his "exhibition": a new-fangled Edison phonograph, a magic lantern slide projector and later on, movies.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
"If it's raining outside and we're all tired and we need to rest, for that downtime we'll watch some TV," he adds.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
A plant in Athens that produces home-care products was plagued by downtime, with production idled for days, when manufacturing equipment broke because manuals were in German, French and English.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026
“I can eat leftovers and catch up on some reading. A little downtime sounds great.”
From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
