noun
Uncommon
bedtime
BEHD-tym
Bedtime (noun) means the time when someone usually goes to bed to sleep. Example: “Bedtime for the kids is eight o'clock on school nights.”
noun
1
The time when someone usually goes to bed to sleep.
"I read every evening, sometimes late into the night, with the help of kerosene lamps, often secretly, past my bedtime."
— Vartan Gregorian, The Road to Home: My Life and Times (2004)
"Bedtime for the kids is eight o'clock on school nights."
"He always reads a chapter before bedtime."
How to use bedtime
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe usual time someone goes to sleep.
Common pairings
bedtime story
past bedtime
bedtime routine
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Word forms
- Plural
- bedtimes
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_____ for the kids is eight o'clock on school nights.
Etymology
From "bed" plus "time," with close cousins in other Germanic languages such as Dutch bedtijd and German Bettzeit.
Synonyms
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lights-out
sleep time
Related words
Rhymes for bedtime
See all rhymes for bedtime →Frequently asked questions
What does “bedtime” mean?
The word “bedtime” means the time when someone usually goes to bed to sleep. In plain terms, the usual time someone goes to sleep.
How do you pronounce “bedtime”?
“Bedtime” is pronounced BEHD-tym (/ˈbɛdtaɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “bedtime” in a sentence?
Here is “bedtime” used in a sentence: “Bedtime for the kids is eight o'clock on school nights.”
What part of speech is “bedtime”?
“Bedtime” is a noun.
Where does the word “bedtime” come from?
The word “bedtime” comes from Germanic. From "bed" plus "time," with close cousins in other Germanic languages such as Dutch bedtijd and German Bettzeit.
Is “bedtime” a common word?
“Bedtime” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between bedtime and nighttime?
Bedtime specifically refers to the time a person usually goes to sleep, while nighttime is the broader stretch of hours after dark. A person's bedtime falls within nighttime, but nighttime covers far more than just the moment someone gets into bed.
Can bedtime be used as an adjective, as in 'bedtime story'?
Yes, bedtime is commonly used attributively before another noun, as in 'bedtime story,' 'bedtime routine,' or 'bedtime snack.' In these phrases it describes something associated with or done at the time someone goes to sleep.
Does bedtime always mean the same time every day?
Not necessarily; bedtime refers to whatever time a person usually goes to sleep, which can vary between weekdays and weekends or change as routines shift. The word describes the habitual moment of going to bed rather than a fixed clock time.
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