uptime

American

[uhp-tahym] / ˈʌpˌtaɪm /

noun

the time during which a machine or piece of equipment, as a computer, is operating or can be operated.
the time during which an employee is actually working.

uptime British

/ ˈʌpˌtaɪm /

noun

commerce time during which a machine, such as a computer, actually operates

"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 uptime

1955–60; up (in sense “operating”) + 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.

Proton VPN’s infrastructure is known for its reliability and uptime.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

“The foundational requirement for every modern AI data center is constant uptime and resilience, which demands real-time, always-on observability delivered at the right cost,” Arora said in a separate release.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 19, 2025

Mr Fagernæs admits high winds will ground the drones occasionally, but expects the service to have 90% uptime.

From BBC • Sep. 1, 2025

Unlike previous such grants, these insist on 95% uptime performance.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2024

“The rate of growth will depend on our equipment capacity, factory uptime, operational efficiency, and the capacity and stability of the supply chain,” the company said.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 19, 2022

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