noun
pastime
PAS-tym
Pastime (noun) means an activity you do purely for enjoyment or to fill spare time. Example: “Gardening has become her favourite pastime since retiring.”
noun
1
An activity you do purely for enjoyment or to fill spare time.
"Gardening has become her favourite pastime since retiring."
"Fishing is a relaxing pastime for many people."
How to use pastime
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething you do for fun or to occupy your free time, not for work or necessity.
Common pairings
favourite pastime
national pastime
harmless pastime
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Word forms
- Plural
- pastimes
- Third person singular
- pastimes
- Past tense
- pastimed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Gardening has become her favourite _____ since retiring.
Etymology
From Middle English passe tyme, literally "pass the time" — a direct English coinage modelled on French passetemps.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pastime
See all rhymes for pastime →Frequently asked questions
What does “pastime” mean?
The word “pastime” means an activity you do purely for enjoyment or to fill spare time. In plain terms, something you do for fun or to occupy your free time, not for work or necessity.
How do you pronounce “pastime”?
“Pastime” is pronounced PAS-tym (/ˈpæs.taɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “pastime” in a sentence?
Here is “pastime” used in a sentence: “Gardening has become her favourite pastime since retiring.”
What part of speech is “pastime”?
“Pastime” is a noun.
Where does the word “pastime” come from?
The word “pastime” comes from French. From Middle English passe tyme, literally "pass the time" — a direct English coinage modelled on French passetemps.
