time

time1 [ taım ] noun ***

▸ 1 quantity clock measures

▸ 2 period

▸ 3 occasion/moment

▸ 4 time available/needed

▸ 5 how fast music is played

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) uncount the quantity that you measure using a clock:

Time seemed to pass more quickly than before.

a ) count or uncount a particular moment during a day, measured on a clock:

What time is it?

What time does the movie start?

tell time (=be able to understand what the time is by looking at a clock): We're teaching them how to tell time.

at this time of day: Rachel won't be busy at this time of day.

b ) uncount the time in a particular part of the world:

It was six o'clock in the morning, Pacific Standard Time.

local time: We left just after midnight, local time.

2. ) count a period:

a long/short time: She thought about it for a long time.

The company only started trading a short time ago.

a/the length of time: There have been improvements in the length of time patients have had to wait for treatment.

a ) a period in someone's life:

someone's time as something: She thoroughly enjoyed her time as manager.

someone's time at something: He speaks of his time at the university as a happy one.

an easy/hard time: When the kids were young it was a particularly hard time.

b ) often plural a period in history:

in the time between the wars

Not since Roman times had a single nation been so powerful.

time of: It was a time of tremendous political uncertainty.

3. ) count an occasion:

the time (when) someone does something: Do you remember the time we drove the car to Paris?

(the) next time: The next time you need financial advice, come and see me.

the first/second/last etc. time: It was the first time we'd noticed how old she'd become.

a ) count an experience:

a good/bad time: It's my job to make sure the guests have a good time.

b ) count or uncount a moment:

at the/that/this time: I was sitting by the window at the time.

at the time of doing something/at the time you do something: You can get travel insurance at the time you book the flight.

c ) uncount a particular point when something happens:

She left the bar a few minutes before closing time.

It's time we were leaving.

time for: They said they would call us when it was time for dinner.

it's time (that) someone did something/was doing something: Isn't it time the children went to bed?

d ) uncount a particular moment that is appropriate or not appropriate for something:

When would be a good time to discuss it?

the right/wrong time: Now seemed the right time to make a change.

e ) count used for saying how often something happens:

Check the temperature two or three times a day.

4. ) uncount the time that is available for something:

She will have less time to spend with family and friends now.

a ) count or uncount the amount of time that you need for a particular activity:

Bad weather could add another hour to your travel time.

We have reduced the delivery time from four days to two.

b ) count the amount of time that someone takes to finish a race:

She's cut two seconds off her previous best time.

5. ) uncount the speed at which a piece of music is played, measured as the number of beats in each BAR:

a piece in 6 8 time

about time

1. ) used for showing that you are annoyed because something has happened later than it should:

Here they are, and about time too.

2. ) used for saying that someone should do something soon:

Isn't it about time we got a new car?

against time

if you do something against time, you have to do it quickly because you are not sure you will have enough time to do it:

They'll be working against time to get it finished.

a race against time (=a situation in which you do not have enough time to do something): All these high-profile building projects turn into a race against time.

ahead of time

at an earlier time than people expected:

The airplane landed about a half hour ahead of time.

ahead of your/its etc. time

much more modern or advanced than most other people or things:

As an artist, he was years ahead of his time.

all the time

1. ) often:

It's a very good restaurant; we go there all the time.

2. ) continuously:

It rained all the time they were there.

3. ) used for saying that one thing happens or exists at the same time as another:

She just kept on talking and all the time I was thinking I wanted to leave.

at a time

used for saying how many things there are in each group or on each occasion:

We usually talk to four or five candidates at a time.

Deal with each question separately, one at a time.

at all times

always:

Please keep your bags with you at all times.

at no time

used for emphasizing that you did not do something or that it did not happen:

At no time did I feel they were being unreasonable.

at one time

in the past, but not now:

At one time, that kind of thing would have made me really mad.

at this time

used for talking about what exists now, usually when it may be different in the future:

We have no more information available at this time.

at times

sometimes but not often:

She was fun to be with at times.

be out of time

to have no more time available to finish something

before your time

1. ) used for talking about things that happen at an earlier stage than they should:

Such a modern design may look outdated before its time.

2. ) OFTEN HUMOROUS used for saying that something happened or existed before you were born:

These styles were a bit before my time.

3. ) used for talking about things that existed in a place before you lived or worked there:

She was a manager here, before your time.

by the time

used for saying what has already happened at the time something else happens:

By the time we arrived, the other guests were already there.

do time INFORMAL

to be in prison

find (the) time

to make some of your time available for a particular purpose:

I should be able to find time to do it tomorrow.

the first/second etc. time round/around

the first/second, etc. time that something happens

for a time

used for saying what happened or existed during a short period before it changed:

We were quite happy for a time, until his brother moved in.

for any length of time

used for talking about things that last for a short time only:

He had difficulty sleeping for any length of time.

for days/weeks etc. at a time

continuously for a period of several days/weeks etc.

for old times' sake

as a way of remembering enjoyable times in the past

for some time

for a long period of time:

I've been thinking about moving for some time now.

from time to time

sometimes, but not often

half the time MAINLY SPOKEN

used for talking about things that happen fairly often:

Half the time the students are not even listening to you.

have all the time in the world INFORMAL

to have a lot of time available to do something

have a lot of time for INFORMAL

to like someone or something very much

have no time for

to dislike someone or something

in no time (at all) or in next to no time

very soon or very quickly

in your own good time INFORMAL

only when it is convenient for you and not before. This expression is often used humorously for telling someone that you are waiting for them to do something.

in your own time

not before you are ready

in someone's time

when someone was living, working, etc. in a particular place:

In my time, customers were always greeted with a smile.

in time

1. ) early enough:

in time to/for: I want to be home in time for tea.

in plenty of time (=well before the latest possible time): If we leave now, we'll be at the airport in plenty of time.

just in time: We got to the hospital just in time to see the newborn baby.

2. ) after a fairly long period of time:

He'll forget about it in time.

3. ) used for talking about a particular time in the future, measured from now:

in five days'/three weeks'/two years' etc. time: In two hours' time, we'll be in Paris.

4. ) if you do something such as move your body in time to a piece of music, your movements are at the same speed and beat as the music

5. ) if musicians are in time with each other, they are all playing at the same speed

it's high time (that)

used for saying that something should happen now:

It's high time we stopped treating him like a child.

it's only a matter/question of time MAINLY SPOKEN

used for saying that something will definitely happen, but you are not sure when

keep time

1. ) if a clock keeps good time, it always shows the correct time

2. ) if a musician keeps time, they play a piece of music at the correct speed and beat

3. ) if you keep time for a musician, you show them what the correct speed and beat are for a piece of music

kill time

to make time seem to pass more quickly by doing something instead of just waiting

lose time

to have less available time than you expected, for example because an unexpected problem has caused a delay

make good/excellent time

to make a trip in a shorter time than you expected

make (the) time

to make some of your time available for a particular purpose:

I'll try and make time to deal with it next week.

mark time

1. ) to make no progress at all, for example because you are waiting for something

2. ) if someone such as a soldier marks time, they make walking movements with their feet but they do not move forward or backward

most of the time

usually or very often

move with the times

to change and become modern

nine times out of ten INFORMAL

usually

not have much time for

to dislike someone or something

of all time

used for talking about people or things that are better than all others that have existed:

the greatest boxer of all time

once upon a time

1. ) used at the beginning of children's stories about events that happened in the past

2. ) HUMOROUS used for talking about a situation that existed in the past

on your own time

during your personal time, not during the time when you are officially at work

on time

arriving at the correct time and not late:

The train was on time.

over time

gradually:

Things will get better over time.

pass the time

to prevent yourself from becoming bored by doing something, often something you are not really interested in:

We played cards to pass the time.

play for time

to cause a delay that gives you more time to prepare for something or decide about something

there's a first time for everything

used for saying that something is very strange or surprising

there's no time like the present SPOKEN

used for saying that someone should do something now, instead of waiting to do it later

(there's) no time to lose

used for telling someone to hurry

time after time or time and again

many times, usually so often that you become annoyed

time and a half

one and a half times the usual money that you earn:

We get time and a half for working on Sundays.

time flies

used for saying that time seems to be passing very quickly

time is money

used for saying that time should not be wasted because you lose money as a result

time is of the essence FORMAL

used for emphasizing that something should be done as soon as possible

time is on your side

you are in a situation that allows you a lot of time to do something

the time is ripe

used for saying that something should happen now because the situation makes it convenient

time of the month INFORMAL

the time when a woman has her PERIOD

time waits for no one

used for telling someone to do something soon, while the time is available

time was MAINLY LITERARY

used for talking about things that happened or existed in the past

time will tell SPOKEN

used for saying that you will know in the future whether something is true or right

when the time comes

used for talking about what will happen at some future time

the whole time

continuously during a period

with time

happening or changing gradually:

You will feel better with time.

with time to spare

earlier than necessary

=> BEST1, FOR, GOOD1, HARD1

time

time 2 [ taım ] verb transitive **

1. ) to use a clock to measure something, for example how long something lasts or how often something happens within a particular period:

a simple device for timing the human heartbeat

2. ) to hit a ball well or badly in a sport because of the exact moment when you hit it:

beautifully/perfectly timed: Murray's perfectly timed swing sent the ball over the fence.

3. ) to arrange something so that it happens at a particular time:

The exhibit has been timed to coincide with the publication of her new book.

a ) to happen by chance at a particular moment:

You timed that well: we're just about to have something to eat.