English Reference
Noun

downtime

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈdaʊnˌtaɪm/ UK /dˈaʊntaɪm/ down·time UK spelling downtimes Computing

n.time when you can relax and do nothing because you are not working or busy. It can also mean the time when a machine or computer system is not working.

n.a period of time during which a person is free from work or obligations; also refers to the interval when a computer system or machine is unavailable for use.


SIMPLE

I need some downtime after this busy week.

CONTEXTUAL

The IT department scheduled the server maintenance for Sunday night to minimize downtime for the employees.

COMPLEX

Finding a balance between high-intensity productivity and restorative downtime is essential for preventing burnout in demanding professional environments.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to relaxation or system inactivity; occasionally used with 'some' or 'a bit of'.

I’m not sure your average Briton, spending their downtime from work scrolling exhaustedly on the sofa, will feel the same.

The Guardian· 31 Aug 2026

From down (“out of order; out of service; inoperable”) + time.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated