screen time

noun

1
: the amount of time someone or something appears on screen in a movie or television show
… the widespread practice of product placement (in which companies buy screen time for their brands) …Celia Wren
Peck's role is only a cameo—23 minutes of screen time scattered through six and a half hours of edited film …John Skow
2
: time spent watching television, playing a video game, or using an electronic device with a screen (such as a smartphone or tablet)
Concerns about children spending too much time on digital devices—'screen time'—and becoming overdependent on these devices are very real for many teachers and parents.Nicky Hockly
If yours is like most American families with kids under age 5, your child probably watches between three and four hours of television a day. That's a lot of screen timeDebra Kent

Examples of screen time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If Iowa State goes dancing, the electric Audi Crooks could get a lot of screen time. Everett Cook, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025 Cooper’s strong-jawed face gets a ton of screen time, from his disgruntled and bored look when standing at the camp’s makeshift podium to his obvious delight counting his winnings from playing cards against the regiment’s soldiers. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025 As digital wellness concerns continue to rise, with increasing attention on screen time and social media's psychological impacts, Mozi's approach could signal an emerging trend in how social technology evolves. Esat Dedezade, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 These side characters each get their moment and the actors make the most of their screen time. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for screen time

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of screen time was in 1921

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Cite this Entry

“Screen time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screen%20time. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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