Word
lunchtime
US/ˈɫəntʃˌtaɪm/
UK/lˈʌntʃtaɪm/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the time of day when you usually eat your midday meal. It is also the period when people take a break from work or school to eat.
n. the period of the day during which the midday meal is typically eaten. Often functions as a temporal reference point for scheduling meetings or breaks.
Examples
“I usually go for a walk at lunchtime.”
“The office is always quiet at lunchtime because most employees go to the nearby park to eat.”
“The museum remains open throughout the day, though the galleries are notably more crowded during lunchtime when local workers visit the temporary exhibitions.”
Examples
simple
“I usually go for a walk at lunchtime.”
contextual
“The office is always quiet at lunchtime because most employees go to the nearby park to eat.”
complex
“The museum remains open throughout the day, though the galleries are notably more crowded during lunchtime when local workers visit the temporary exhibitions.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'at' to indicate a specific time, or 'during' to indicate the duration of the break.
Etymology
From lunch + time.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/lunchtime