Jump To:

• me time
  me time

  noun

  time spent focusing on oneself and only doing things one wants to do.
• me-time
  me-time

  noun

  the time a person has to himself or herself, in which to do something for his or her own enjoyment

me time

American  

[mee tahym] / ˈmi ˌtaɪm /

Or me-time

noun

Informal.

1. time spent focusing on oneself and only doing things one wants to do.

   I’ll try to find some me time when the kids go back to school.

---

me-time British  

noun

1. the time a person has to himself or herself, in which to do something for his or her own enjoyment

---

Etymology

Origin of me time

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

me time me-time

It just takes me time to come out my shell I think and I can't stop talking now really!

From BBC ● May 2, 2026

The reason that being five years out from retirement is such a big deal is that it gives me time to plan.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 22, 2026

That saves me time and helps me pause before trusting AI-generated information—even if I still have to follow up with my own fact-checking.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 21, 2026

She texted me a few pictures of handwritten pages during our call, giving me time to read a poem about swallows flying in loops and another about singing to her first preschool class.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2025

Scaramouche and Wilfred thought I had a remote chance of getting to America, but they both urged me to get a job, preferably one that would allow me time to practise and play in tournaments.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

If the me-time in your car lasts so long that it becomes an issue with a spouse or causes you to delay your parental duties too much, it’s time to reconsider, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026

If you spent the majority of your adult life in imprisonment, you’d likely want some me-time, too.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2023

Other employees are taking a pay cut to not work on Fridays, or some who set their own schedules have designated Fridays as me-time.

From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2022

Meghan King is ready to embark on the next chapter of her life – but not without some me-time first.

From Fox News ● Jan. 25, 2022

I happen to enjoy cooking, so doing that as my last chore of the night while watching Murder, She Wrote is like … my very lame me-time.

From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2019