mealtime: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; slightly more common in written or instructional contexts.
Quick answer
What does “mealtime” mean?
The time at which a meal is usually eaten.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The time at which a meal is usually eaten.
A collective term for occasions (breakfast, lunch, dinner) dedicated to eating; can also refer to the experience or ritual surrounding eating.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Dinnertime' / 'supper time' might show more regional variation within each country than 'mealtime' itself.
Connotations
In both, it can carry connotations of family time, routine, or institutional scheduling (e.g., in care homes, schools).
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “mealtime” in a Sentence
It is [adjective] at mealtime.We try to maintain regular mealtimes.Mealtime is a chance to [verb].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mealtime” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in hospitality or healthcare industry reports discussing scheduling.
Academic
Used in studies on nutrition, family dynamics, psychology, and daily routines.
Everyday
Common when discussing family routines, childcare, diet plans, or daily schedules.
Technical
Used in medical/nutritional contexts (e.g., 'mealtime insulin', 'mealtime behaviours').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mealtime”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mealtime”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mealtime”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'Let's mealtime').
- Confusing it with 'meal' itself (e.g., 'We had a nice mealtime' instead of 'We had a nice meal').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one word (mealtime). The hyphenated form 'meal-time' is dated and rare.
Yes, it's a general term. Context usually clarifies if it means breakfast, lunch, or dinner time. The plural 'mealtimes' refers to all such times in a day.
'Dinnertime' is specific to the evening meal. 'Mealtime' is generic and can refer to the time for any main meal.
It is neutral. It is appropriate in both everyday conversation ('What's our mealtime tonight?') and more formal, instructional, or academic writing.
The time at which a meal is usually eaten.
Mealtime: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːltaɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiːlˌtaɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Make it to mealtime (survive/work until the next scheduled meal).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MEAL + TIME combined. It's simply the TIME for a MEAL.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (for social interaction/nourishment).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'mealtime' LEAST likely to be used?