PASTIME

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does pastime mean? 

• PASTIME (noun)
  The noun PASTIME has 1 sense:

1. a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)

  Familiarity information: PASTIME used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PASTIME (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

interest; pastime; pursuit

Context example:

they criticized the boy for his limited pursuits

Hypernyms ("pastime" is a kind of...):

diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pastime"):

avocation; by-line; hobby; pursuit; sideline; spare-time activity (an auxiliary activity)

 Context examples 

I did not omit even our sports and pastimes, or any other particular which I thought might redound to the honour of my country.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

"Try, then. I give you leave," returned Laurie, who enjoyed having someone to tease, after his long abstinence from his favorite pastime.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Eagerness of a listener! repeated she: yes; Mr. Rochester has sat by the hour, his ear inclined to the fascinating lips that took such delight in their task of communicating; and Mr. Rochester was so willing to receive and looked so grateful for the pastime given him; you have noticed this?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I have always held, too, that pistol practice should be distinctly an open-air pastime; and when Holmes, in one of his queer humours, would sit in an armchair with his hair-trigger and a hundred Boxer cartridges, and proceed to adorn the opposite wall with a patriotic V. R. done in bullet-pocks, I felt strongly that neither the atmosphere nor the appearance of our room was improved by it.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Laurie's eyes followed her with pleasure, for she neither romped nor sauntered, but danced with spirit and grace, making the delightsome pastime what it should be.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)