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Meetings & Communicationnoun · /ˈkæl.ən.dər blɑːk/

calendar block

In simple English

In tech workplaces, a calendar block is a professional tool for time management and protecting your focus time. Engineers and managers use calendar blocks to ensure uninterrupted time for important work like coding, deep focus sessions, or project planning. For example, you might calendar block Monday mornings for sprint planning or Friday afternoons for code review. The term is also used as a verb: 'I will calendar block time for this migration work.' Calendar blocks help communicate your availability to teammates and prevent meeting overload, which is especially important in collaborative tech environments where back-to-back meetings can reduce productivity.

Understand how to reserve dedicated time on your work calendar and why it matters for productivity

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness4/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓I am going to calendar block some time for the architecture review
✓Let me calendar block this next week before it fills up
✓Can you calendar block Friday morning for the retrospective?

Real examples

in a standup

"I have calendar blocked the next two days for the database migration, so I will not be available for new tasks."

in a team meeting

"We should all calendar block Tuesday and Wednesday for the hackathon so no one schedules conflicting meetings."

in a one-on-one

"I recommend calendar blocking 90 minutes every morning for deep work on your current feature."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Do not confuse with 'blocking' someone or blocking access. Calendar block specifically means reserving time on a calendar, not preventing something.

✕I blocked my calendar for the meeting.
✓I calendar blocked time for the meeting.— The verb form is 'calendar block,' not 'block.' Also, blocking typically refers to preventing access, not reserving time.
✕The calendar block is blocking me.
✓The calendar block prevents others from scheduling meetings during that time.— A calendar block does not block you; it blocks others from booking that time slot.
✕I calendar blocked it already done.
✓I have already calendar blocked time for it.— The verb form is 'calendar block' or 'have calendar blocked,' not 'calendar blocked it already done.'

Other forms

noun

calendar block

"This calendar block is protected and cannot be moved."

verb

calendar block (infinitive)

"I need to calendar block time for the critical bug fix."

verb

calendar blocks (third person singular)

"She calendar blocks every Friday for project planning."

verb

calendar blocked (past tense)

"I calendar blocked the entire sprint planning session."

Often used with

calendar block timeThe most common phrase; means to reserve specific time on your calendar
mark as calendar blockUsed when you officially set a block on your calendar system
respect the calendar blockMeans not scheduling meetings during someone's reserved time
recurring calendar blockA time slot reserved regularly, such as every Monday or every Friday afternoon
deep work calendar blockA reserved time specifically for focused, uninterrupted work

Similar words

time blockMore general term; calendar block is specific to calendar systems
protected timeSimilar meaning but more formal; emphasizes that the time is unavailable
focus timeLess specific; refers to uninterrupted time but not necessarily marked on a calendar
reserved timeGeneric term; calendar block is the tech workplace standard

Opposites

open calendaravailable timefree slot

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. You want to protect your Friday afternoons for code review. What would you say?

Complete the sentence

2. Please _______ at least four hours next week for the architecture design session.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses calendar block incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite using calendar block: 'I am going to keep Monday and Wednesday mornings free so I can write code without being interrupted by meetings.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "calendar block" in a standup this week?

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