Meaning of time In English

• 0 the part of existence that is measured in minutes, days, years, etc., or this process considered as a whole:

  • He wants to spend more time with his family.

  • Time passes so quickly when you're having fun.

  • She grew more and more fascinated by the subject as time went on/by.

  • The curtains have faded over/with time (= as years have gone past).

  • You'll forget her in time (= in the future).

  • Over the course of time (= as years have gone past), holes have formed in the rock.

  • When Paula was ill, I took her some magazines to help her pass the time.

  • If you'd taken more time with/over (= spent more time doing) this essay, you could have done it much better.

  • It takes a long time (= many hours are needed) to get from London to Sydney.

  • We'd save time on our journey (= it would be quicker) if we went by train.

  • I only worked there for a short period of time.

  • The kitchen clock is gaining/losing time (= is going fast/slow).

  • My watch has never kept very good time (= been correct).

  • I wish you'd stop criticizing me all the time.

  • The kids ate their dinner in no time.

  • We'll be home in next to no time.

  • Come on, there's no time to lose, we have to get home before John finds out.

  • I will love you for all time.

  • She's been called the greatest singer of all time.

• 1 the system of recording hours used in different parts of the world:

  • Greenwich Mean Time

  • daylight saving time

• 2 an amount of time that you have available to do something:

  • I don't know how you find time to do all the things you do.

  • I thought we'd give her a little more time (= allow her more time) to get the job done.

  • I'd like to visit all the museums but time is short (= there is little time left).

  • We don't have much time before the train leaves.

  • Do you have time for a quick drink after work?

  • I'd like to learn to sail, but I don't have the time (= I am too busy).

  • [ + to infinitive ] I don't have time to go to the shops today.

  • If you'd done your work instead of wasting time on your phone, you'd be finished by now.

  • She ran out of time and didn't finish the last question.

  • I'd like to continue this discussion but we're all out of time.

  • OK, everyone, time's up for this week.

  • His goal in the third minute of time added on sealed the match.

• 3 a particular period of time for which something has been happening, or that is needed for something:

  • After a time, it became clear that nobody was interested in coming to the meetings.

  • They stayed with us for a short time.

  • That was the best restaurant I've been to for/in a long time (= a long period has gone past since I went to such a good restaurant).

  • It was some time ago that I last heard from her.

  • We're going on holiday in two weeks' time (= after two weeks have passed).

  • During her time (= while she was) in office, the prime minister introduced a large number of changes.

  • What do you like doing in your spare/free time (= when you are not working)?

  • I asked my boss if I could have some time off (from work) to go to the dentist.

  • For a time, we all thought that Sheila and Frank would get married.

  • I've been doing yoga for some time.

  • Leave the ironing for the time being - I'll do it later.

  • She often gets stomach pain when it's her time of the month.

  • Her mother told her she needed to eat red meat because you lose more iron at that time of the month.

• 4 a particular point in the day, as expressed in hours and minutes or shown on a clock, or a particular point in time:

  • What time is it?

  • mainly UK "What's the time?" "It's ten o'clock."

  • What time do you finishwork?

  • Have you got the time? (= Do you know what time it is?)

  • He's teaching his daughter to tell the time (= to recognize what time it is by looking at a clock).

  • Did you find out the times of the trains to Kiev?

  • The estimated time of arrival/departure of this flight is 11.15.

  • mainly UK Oh dear, is that the (right) time? (= is it really so late?)

  • We always have dinner at the same time every day.

  • I was exhausted by the time (= when) I got home.

  • When would be a good time for me to call you?

  • "What would be the best time of day for us to deliver the table?" "Oh, any time will be OK."

  • Today's temperatures will be normal for the time of year (= will be as they are expected to be in this season).

  • Just think, this time (= at the same particular point during) next week we'll be in Aruba.

  • We regret that at the present time ( US also at this time) we are unable to supply the products you ordered.

  • The time is fast drawing near/approaching (= it will soon be the time) when we'll have to make a decision.

  • It seemed like a good idea at the time.

  • We arrived at the same time.

  • At his time of life, he ought to be taking things easy.

• 5 a particular point of the day, year, etc. that is suitable for a particular activity, or at which something is expected to happen:

  • holiday time

  • party time

  • Put your toys away now - it's time for bed.

  • It's time (that) I was leaving.

  • [ + to infinitive ] Is it time (for us) to go home yet?

  • This is not the time (= not a suitable moment) to be thinking about buying a house.

  • This is no time (= not a suitable moment) to change your mind.

  • I feel that the time has come (= now is a suitable moment) for me to move on.

  • The repairs to the road were finished two weeks ahead of time (= sooner than was expected).

  • Why is it that the buses never run on time (= make their journeys in the expected number of hours, etc.)?

  • She's grown old before her time (= sooner than she might have been expected to have done).

  • I got home just in time - it's starting to rain.

  • If we don't hurry up, we won't be in time to catch the train.

  • We got there in plenty of time (= we arrived early) for the beginning of the game.

  • My parents go to the house right on time.

  • Let's meet for lunch. I'll call you ahead of time to decide exactly when and where.

  • It's about time (that) the school improved its food service.

  • It is high time for the critics to open their minds to a new approach.

  • "So Ben's finally found a job." "Yeah, it's about time."

  • I haven't told him yet, but I will when the time is right.

  • She felt the time was right to leave.

  • The time is ripe for investing in new technology.

• 6 an occasion when something happens, or the experience connected with it:

  • The last time we went to Paris, it rained every day.

  • Every time/Each time I ask you to do something you say you're busy.

  • They go swimming three or four times a week.

  • There are times when I wish I didn't live where I do.

  • The four-times champion (= the champion on four occasions in the past) was defeated in the second round.

  • If I'd known at the time (= then) that she was his former wife, I'd never have said what I did.

  • Sometimes I enjoy my English classes, but at other times I find them really boring.

  • For the umpteenth/hundredth/thousandth time, (= I've told you on many occasions to) stop teasing your sister.

  • Did you have a bad/good time (= an unpleasant/enjoyable experience) at the conference?

  • She had an easy/hard time of it (= a comfortable/uncomfortable experience) with the birth of her second baby.

  • From time to time I still think of her.

  • Time after time she gets involved in relationships with the wrong men.

  • I've told you time and time again - look before you cross the road.

  • When you're at the airport, you should make sure you have your luggage with you at all times.

  • Only a certain number of people are allowed in the building at any one time.

  • I'm sorry, but I'm too busy to help you now - I can only do one thing at a time.

  • You can be really annoying at times, you know.

  • Parking is not allowed here at any time.

  • The times I've told you, ask before you borrow my clothes.

• 7 a period in history:

  • "A Tale of Two Cities" is set at the time of the French Revolution.

  • In/During medieval times, women thought to be witches were burned at the stake.

  • In times gone by, all crops were harvested by hand.

  • Times were hard (= living conditions were not good) when I was a boy.

  • He is widely regarded as one of the best writers of modern/our times (= the present or very recent past).

  • I never thought it would happen in my time (= before I died).

  • We sat and talked about old times (= things that had happened to us in the past.)

  • Times have changed and many more women now have executive jobs than in the past.

  • At one time, George Eliot lived here.

  • I don't remember the Beatles - they were before my time.

  • Time was (when) you could buy a loaf of bread for sixpence.

• 8 Your time in a race is the number of minutes, hours, etc. you take to complete it:

  • Her time for the marathon was just under three hours.

  • He ran the 100 metres in record time.

• 9 the number of beats in a bar of music, or the speed at which a piece of music is intended to be played:

  • This piece is written in 4/4 time.

  • Small children often have difficulty singing in time with the music (= at the same speed at which the music is being played).

  • It seemed to me as if the violins were playing out of time (= at a different speed from the other instruments playing the same piece of music).

  • To beat time is to make a regular series of sounds at the same speed as a piece of music is played.

  • Tapping your foot will help you to keep time (= to play the music at the correct speed).

• 10 to spend a period of time in prison:

  • It's not always easy to find a job after you've done time.

• 11 the particular point in the day at which people who are drinking in a bar in the UK have to finish their drinks and leave:

  • "Time, please!" called the landlord.

  • Is it time already?

• 12 to decide that something will happen at a particular time:

  • [ + to infinitive ] We timed our trip to coincide with my cousin's wedding.

  • If you time your departure carefully, you should be able to miss the worst of the traffic.

  • The girls' basketball team won the game with a perfectly timed shot (= one played at exactly the right moment), just before the buzzer.

• 13 to measure how long it takes for something to happen or for someone to do something:

  • Will you time me to see how long it takes me to swim a length?

• 14 the stated period of time during the year, day, etc.:

  • springtime

  • Christmas-time

  • daytime

  • night-time

• 15 the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, etc., in which existence is measured, or the past, present, and future considered as a whole:

  • I really don’t have time to call her today.

  • The children spent most of their time outdoors.

  • We’d save time (= It would be quicker) if we didn’t have to pick up Bobby on the way.

• 16 a particular period of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, etc., during which something has been happening or is needed or available:

  • [ U ] The kids are well-behaved most of the time.

  • [ C ] She was very lonely at that time.

  • [ C ] They talked for a long time.

  • [ U ] She spent most of her free time listening to music.

  • [ C ] It’s unusual to get snow at this time of year.

  • [ U ] Those kids are over here all the time (= often or continuously).

  • [ U ] While he was waiting, Joe passed the time looking through magazines.

  • [ C ] The track was soft, and the times were slow.

• 17 a particular moment in the day, as expressed in hours and minutes and shown on a clock, or a particular point in the day, week, month, or year:

  • [ U ] What time is it?

  • [ U ] What time do you finish work?

  • [ U ] He’s teaching his daughter to tell time (= to recognize what particular point in the day it is by looking at a clock).

  • [ C ] I catch the train at the same time every day.

  • [ U ] Parking is not allowed here at any time (= ever).

  • [ U ] Mountain Standard Time

  • [ U ] daylight saving time

• 18 a point of the day, week, month, or year that is suitable for a particular activity, or at which something is expected to happen:

  • [ U ] We had enjoyed our visit, but now it was time to go home.

  • [ U ] Put away your toys, Leni, it’s time for bed.

  • [ C ] The times for meals are listed on the schedule.

  • [ U ] This is no time (= not a suitable moment) to change your mind.

  • We arrived just in time for the show

  • I'm glad you got here in time to see Julie before she goes.

  • The plane is expected to arrive on time (= when scheduled).

• 19 an occasion or period, or the experience connected with it:

  • This is a time to be serious.

  • There were times when he almost gave up, but somehow he managed to survive.

  • We visit my mother a few times a year.

  • She takes the medicine three times a day.

  • He was holding down three jobs at the same time.

  • We had a good time at the party.

• 20 a period in history:

  • Indians since ancient times have ground their corn by hand.

  • The Beatles were way before my time.