pastime

noun

pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm How to pronounce pastime (audio)
Synonyms of pastime
: something that amuses and serves to make time pass agreeably : diversion
Her favorite pastime is gardening.
Baseball has been a national pastime for many years.

Examples of pastime in a Sentence

Baseball has been a national pastime for years.
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.
Irma is not going to resolve her dilemma by having sex or cutting loose, nor by renouncing such pastimes and doubling down on intellect. — B. D. McClay, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Biking, kayaking, hiking, grabbing a drink and other pastimes flourish in the fall. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Did team owners or the Polo Grounds lose any money because of this gesture to the national pastime? — Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Young people frustrated by the proliferation of AI and sick of screen addiction are investing in more nondigital pastimes, many of which have a nostalgic bent. — Deeya Sonalkar, TheWeek, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pastime

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pastime was in the 15th century

Rhymes for pastime

See All Rhymes for pastime

Browse Nearby Words

pastille
pastime
pastina
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

pastime

noun
pas·​time ˈpas-ˌtīm How to pronounce pastime (audio)
: something that helps to make time pass agreeably

More from Merriam-Webster on pastime

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