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
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
Taking a break gave me time to think about other things, like school, and softball.
From "I Will Always Write Back" by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda
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
The model and actress, who has been hitting the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival, enjoyed some me-time on Sunday.
From Fox News ● Sep. 6, 2021
Am I crazy that I enjoy this me-time?
From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2015
Definitions 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.
