bedtime

American  

[bed-tahym] / ˈbɛdˌtaɪm /

noun

1. the time at which a person usually goes to bed.

   It's past my bedtime.

2. the time at which a person goes to bed on a particular night.

   I have to get up early tomorrow so bedtime tonight will be 9 o'clock.

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bedtime British  

/ ˈbɛdˌtaɪm /

noun

1. 1. the time when one usually goes to bed

   2. ( as modifier )

      a bedtime story

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Etymology

Origin of bedtime

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; see origin at bed, time

Explanation

Bedtime is the time of the evening or night when you go to sleep. If you want a good excuse to leave a boring party, you can look at your watch and say, "Wow! It's way past my bedtime!" The time you generally go to bed is your bedtime, although you may not have a regular bedtime, just turning in whenever you feel sleepy. Most young children have a set bedtime, which is basically the hour their parents have decided they should go to sleep. If they're lucky, they'll get a bedtime story before the lights are turned off. Bedtime dates from the 13th century, from the Old English bedd and tima, "limited space of time."

Example Sentences

She is also the author of two picture books for children, "Rectangle Time" and "It Simply Can't Be Bedtime."

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

Bedtime stories are best known as a way to help children wind down, but they can be just as beneficial for the racing thoughts of an adult mind.

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2024

Hollywood actor Jason Momoa donned silk pyjamas and a crocheted cardigan to read Julia Donaldson's book Tiddler, for CBeebies Bedtime Stories.

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2023

Bedtime stories and perhaps a little “Sesame Street” are enough.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2023

Bedtime seems to be taking a while—it sounds like there’s some argument about which chapter their read-aloud left off on—so I load up my personal email.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan