Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for me time. Search instead for up-time.
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

"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

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.

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

"The way they were able to predict that, it gave me time to get to a point of safety," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2025

I looked forward to her visits because they gave me time to study.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "me time" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com