mealtime
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of mealtime
First recorded in 1125–75, mealtime is from the Middle English word meeltyme. See meal 1, time
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:
Three months ago, he was finally given a new, longer bed, but that causes him to sit up in a position that he says led to a major choking incident one mealtime.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2025
Whether you’re resolving to cook more or simply hoping to reduce mealtime stress, Leith’s book offers a way forward that feels achievable and— most importantly — human.
From Salon ● Dec. 9, 2024
Ararat employees told state investigators that her family members had been taught about mealtime precautions to prevent the woman from inhaling food, but could not provide written evidence of that training.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2024
You are smart to take your medicine well away from mealtime, since coffee, tea and supplements containing iron or calcium can reduce absorption.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 24, 2024
I see Davi sometimes in line at mealtime, but she no longer talks to anyone.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
Across most facilities, detainees reported improperly cooked food, a lack of dietary or allergy accommodations and irregular mealtimes.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026
The guidance also suggests "screen swaps" - taking screens away to read stories together or playing simple games at mealtimes.
From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2026
Kouki said he likes using his phone to watch Japanese baseball highlights, but the family now shuns screens during mealtimes.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2025
During mealtimes, they suggest “better communication between the kitchen, staff members and students” when it comes to what food — and how much of it — gets served.
From Salon ● Nov. 18, 2024
At mealtimes he stood by the cooking pots and rubbed his stomach.
From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer
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.
