me time
noun
time spent focusing on oneself and only doing things one wants to do.
me time
American
[mee tahym]
/ ˈmi ˌtaɪm /
Or
me-time
noun
Informal.
me-time
British
noun
Etymology
Origin of me time
First recorded in 1980–85
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.
See Examples For:
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
Dax doesn’t save me time writing my note or make clinic go any faster.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2025
“To let go of that feeling was something which took me time, and obviously I had to do my own catharsis. I had self-identity doubts,” Chand said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2025
That gave me time to gather my books, put on my jacket, and walk to the end of our driveway where I would meet him.
From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg
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
I always start with my sweet almond cleansing balm, as a me-time treatment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2021
Murphy is also enjoying plenty of me-time when she’s not up on her feet.
From Fox News ● Apr. 23, 2020
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
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
