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• 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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of me time

First recorded in 1980–85

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

me time me-time

From my starting point in Nashville, Tenn., down to Little Rock, Ark., the Bolt’s nimble handling made for a smooth ride and afforded me time for sightseeing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

"It gave me time to mature. I made great friends, still pursued academics and had great coaches."

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 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

Dax doesn’t save me time writing my note or make clinic go any faster.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2025

If I asked him, would he be sympathetic enough to allow me time off with pay?

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

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

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 always start with my sweet almond cleansing balm, as a me-time treatment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2021

An astronaut whose suit is contaminated during a spacewalk is forbidden re-entry and must abandon ship, using the extra me-time to sign off to his crew and family back on Earth.

From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2013

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