noun

uptime

/ˈʌptaɪm/ · say it: UP·tym

the time a system stays continuously operational

In Technology & Computing

In more detail

1. (noun) the amount of time that a computer, server, or system is working and available for use

2. (noun) a period during which equipment is operating properly without interruption

Examples

1. The company guarantees 99.9% uptime for its cloud services.
2. The server experienced downtime yesterday, but uptime has been good this week.

How to use uptime

Uptime is a technical term used primarily in IT and infrastructure contexts to measure system reliability and performance. It typically appears in service agreements (SLAs), network monitoring discussions, and operational reports. The concept is often expressed as a percentage (e.g., 99.99% uptime) and is crucial for businesses that depend on continuous system availability.

Common phrases

high uptime
99.9% uptime
system uptime
server uptime
uptime guarantee
uptime SLA

Synonyms

availability · operational time · running time · system availability · service availability

Opposites

downtime · outage

Word family

downtime

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse uptime with network speed or bandwidth; uptime measures availability duration, not performance quality or data transfer rates.

Learn it for good

Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.

Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD