pastime

[ pas-tahym, pahs- ]

noun

1. something that serves to make time pass agreeably; a pleasant means of amusement, recreation, or sport:

   to play cards as a pastime.

   Synonyms: avocation, diversion, hobby, entertainment

pastime

/ ˈpɑːsˌtaɪm /

noun

1. an activity or entertainment which makes time pass pleasantly

   golf is my favourite pastime

Word History and Origins

Origin of pastime¹

1480–90; earlier pas ( s ) e tyme, translation of Middle French passe-temps

Word History and Origins

Origin of pastime¹

C15: from pass + time , on the model of French passe-temps

Example Sentences

This is not speed chess, to reference Reeves’s favourite pastime.

From BBC

Baseball may be known as “America’s pastime”, but its biggest star is from Japan.

From BBC

Hugely popular with fellow gardeners across Scotland, he described the pastime as "part of the fabric of our lives".

From BBC

We’ve become accustomed to assume that such landmarks are abandoned — a bittersweet reminder of a forgotten era when going to films was the national pastime.

From Los Angeles Times

Piloting a private plane is obviously an expensive pastime, so it may be natural for the words “flying community” to conjure images of private jets and caviar.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amusement
• diversion
• fun
• hobby
• recreation