spare minute

USAGE SUMMARY

"spare minute" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to refer to a short amount of free time or a brief moment that is not occupied by other tasks or activities. Example: "I have been so busy all day, but I finally have a spare minute to relax and read a book."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Books

Sports

Opinion

Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Who had a spare minute to look?

The New York Times

I've not got a spare minute in the day.

The Guardian - Sport

He used every spare minute to classify and identify birds.

The New Yorker

Instead of spending every spare minute at her fiancé's bedside, she sits at home and sews.

The Economist

When I asked how she unwinds, she said: 'There isn't a spare minute in the day.

The Guardian

I was now working on the diaries every spare minute of my time.

The Guardian - Books

She's making a speech about the US alliance this morning, which I'll track down when there's a spare minute.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Einstein did his routine work thoroughly, but spent his spare minutes on his own studies.

The New Yorker

"UFO" was tacked on in the final recording session, to fill three spare minutes of tape.

The New Yorker

Tips for iPhone is intuitive and helpful, plus it's a great way to while away a few spare minutes.

The New York Times - Tech

Being busy with real life and a small child means taking advantage of whatever spare minutes I can find.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spare minute" when you want to convey a small, opportunistic window of time available amidst a busy schedule.

Common error

Avoid using "spare minute" excessively in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "free moment" or "available instant" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spare minute" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as an adverbial modifier indicating when an action can be performed. Ludwig AI confirms its valid usage in a variety of sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Lifestyle

15%

Books

9%

Less common in

Sports

5%

Opinion

4%

Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spare minute" is a very common and grammatically correct way to refer to a short period of available time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used across various contexts, from news and lifestyle articles to books and even wikis. While generally neutral in register, be mindful of overusing it in your writing. Consider synonyms like "free moment" or "available instant" to keep your prose engaging. Keep in mind it is commonly used across different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

free moment

Replaces "spare" with "free", emphasizing availability.

moment to spare

Reorders the words for a slightly different emphasis.

extra moment

Replaces "spare" with "extra", indicating surplus time.

available instant

Substitutes "minute" with "instant", highlighting brevity.

short break

Suggests a pause from activity.

free time slot

More specific, suggesting a scheduled opening.

pocket of time

Illustrates a small, contained amount of time.

quick opportunity

Highlights the chance to do something quickly.

brief window

Emphasizes the limited duration of the time.

unscheduled time

Emphasizes the lack of planning for the time.

FAQs

How can I use "spare minute" in a sentence?

You can use "spare minute" to describe a brief opportunity or moment of free time, for example, "If you have a "spare minute", could you help me with this task?"

What can I say instead of "spare minute"?

You can use alternatives like "free moment", "available instant", or "moment to spare" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "spare minute" or "spare moment"?

Both "spare minute" and "spare moment" are correct and often interchangeable. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. A ""spare minute"" might imply a slightly more specific or measurable time frame.

What's the difference between "spare time" and "spare minute"?

"Spare time" refers to a larger block of leisure time, while ""spare minute"" indicates a very brief, often unexpected, opportunity. For example, you might have "spare time" on the weekend, but only a ""spare minute"" between meetings.