idle time

British

noun

commerce time during which a machine or a worker could be working but is not, as when one job has been completed and tooling or materials for the next are not complete or available Compare downtime

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even if this is true, understaffing leads to neglect in rehabilitation and excessive idle time.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2025

The study demonstrated outperforming results, including reduced passenger rejection rates and driver idle time.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2024

It’s generally accepted that the idle time affects hitters’ timing.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2023

Workers told the BBC about "severe" conditions, claiming they are constantly monitored and upbraided for "idle time" lasting just a few minutes.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2023

Over the past month or so Tree-ear had filled his idle time by molding clay.

From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023