airtime

noun

air·​time ˈer-ˌtīm How to pronounce airtime (audio)
1
: the time or any part of the time when a radio or television station is on the air
2
: the time at which a radio or television broadcast is scheduled to begin

Examples of airtime in a Sentence

The committee plans to buy radio airtime for the campaign ads.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Major reports about its immigration actions and pay-for-play operations have gotten significant airtime on the network and praise from Weiss. — semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The sheer amount of unedited airtime puts QVC hosts in the perfect position to put their orthotics in their mouths. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026 The campaign has spent nearly $20 million on cable airtime and advertisement production costs. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026 For actual public service announcements, the TV airtime is usually donated. — Alayna Treene, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for airtime

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of airtime was in 1924

Rhymes for airtime

See All Rhymes for airtime

Browse Nearby Words

airtight
airtime
air-to-air
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airtime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airtime. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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