downtime
DOWN-tyme
/ˈdaʊntaɪm/
Time during which a machine, especially a computer, is out of action or unavailable for use; (informal) time when one is not working or active.
It implies a necessary period of non-activity to prevent system failure or exhaustion.
The story behind the word. Originally a 20th-century industrial term, 'downtime' referred to the period when a factory's machines were stopped for repairs. It was later adopted by the computer industry and finally by general culture to describe humans 'shutting down' to recover.
Word relationships
- leisure: Leisure is for pleasure; downtime is for recovery.
- rest: Rest is a general term; downtime often implies a break from a high-intensity cycle.
- uptime: The period when a system is operational.
- overtime: Working beyond regular hours.
Commonly confused with
- idleness: Idleness implies laziness; downtime implies a functional necessity.
Collocations
- scheduled downtime
- unplanned downtime
- much-needed downtime
- minimize downtime
Example sentences
- "Even the most productive employees need downtime to recharge their creative batteries." Discussing productivity.
- "The server experienced three hours of downtime during the update." Tech industry report.
Memory hook
When the 'Down' arrow is on the 'Time,' you are resting. Power down to power up.
When not to use
Avoid in very formal academic writing; use 'leisure' or 'recuperation' instead.
Fun facts
- In the 1950s, downtime was almost exclusively used for oil rigs and assembly lines.
Related words
Also appears in
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