spare time

Meaning

Spare time is very similar to 'free time' and refers to extra time when you are not busy with your main duties. It often carries a slight nuance of 'extra' or 'surplus' time that you can choose how to spend. It is a common and friendly phrase used in everyday English.

Examples

• I like to bake bread in my spare time.

  I like to bake bread in my spare time.

• Do you have any spare time to help me with this project?

  Do you have any spare time to help me with this project?

• He writes poetry in his spare time, but he keeps it a secret.

  He writes poetry in his spare time, but he keeps it a secret.

• She doesn't have much spare time since she started her new job.

  She doesn't have much spare time since she started her new job.

• We spent our spare time exploring the local parks.

  We spent our spare time exploring the local parks.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ What do you do in your spare times?

  ✓ What do you do in your spare time?

  Like 'free time', 'spare time' is uncountable and does not take a plural 's'.

• ✗ I have a spare time this afternoon.

  ✓ I have some spare time this afternoon.

  Because 'time' is uncountable, you cannot use the indefinite article 'a' directly before 'spare time'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• He learns Spanish in his ___.

  💡 His extra hours outside of work

  Show answer

  spare time

• Do you have any ___ to check this email for me?

  💡 Available or extra time

  Show answer

  spare time