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time

1 time /ˈtaɪm/ noun
plural times
1 time
/ˈtaɪm/
noun
plural times
Britannica Dictionary definition of TIME
[noncount] : the thing that is measured as seconds, minutes, hours, days, years, etc.
[singular] : a particular minute or hour shown by a clock
[noncount] : the time in a particular area or part of the world
see also british summer time, daylight saving time, greenwich mean time, local time, standard time
: the part of a day, week, month, or year when something usually happens or is scheduled to happen
[noncount]
[count]
see also bedtime, dinnertime, drive time, lunchtime, mealtime, playtime, prime time, teatime
[count] : a particular part of a day, week, month, or year
see also christmastime, daytime, nighttime, noontime, springtime, summertime, wintertime
[count] : an occurrence of an action or event : an instance of something happening or of someone doing something
[singular] : the period of time when something happens
often used after at
see also at the same time (below), at times (below)
[count] : the exact moment when a particular event happens or is scheduled to happen
see also closing time, showtime
: a period of time when a situation or set of conditions exists : a period of minutes, hours, days, weeks, etc., when something is happening or someone is doing something
[count]
often + when
often used after at
[noncount]
[noncount] : the number of minutes, days, years, etc., before something happens : the amount of time it takes for something to happen usually used after in
[noncount] : the amount of time that is used, needed, available, or allowed for a particular activity or for someone to do something
often used with save
often used with lose
often used with spend
often used with waste
often followed by to + verb
: the right moment to do something or for something to happen
[count]
often followed by to + verb
often used with come
[noncount]
10 
[count] : the quality of a person's experience on a particular occasion or during a particular period
11 
[count] : a specific period in the past
often used after in
often used in the titles of books, newspapers, etc.
12 
times [plural]
: the conditions experienced by a group of people now or during a particular period in the past
: the styles, events, or ideas that are popular or important in a culture now or at a particular period in the past
13 
[count] : a period or stage in a person's life
[singular] : the time when a woman gives birth to a child
[singular] : the time when someone dies
14 
[singular] : the number of months, years, etc., that a person spends at a particular place or in a particular group or organization
[singular] : the number of months or years that an active member of the military is required to stay in the military
[noncount] informal : the number of days, months, or years that a person must stay in prison
15 
[count] : the seconds, minutes, etc., it takes to do something (such as finish a race)
16 
[noncount] : the minutes, hours, or days that a person works or is required to work for a company : the time during which a company is paying a worker
see also double time, flextime, full-time, overtime, part-time, short time, time and a half
17 
times [plural] used to say how much bigger, smaller, faster, etc., something is than something else
see also times
18 
[noncount] music
: the rate of speed at which a piece of music is performed
see also keep time 2 (below)
: the way that beats are grouped together in a piece of music often used after in

against time

◊ If you are racing/working (etc.) against time or are in a race against time, you are doing something quickly because you have only a small amount of time.

ahead of time

: before something happens : earlier than a time or event

ahead of your/its time

◊ If you are ahead of your time or if your ideas, creations, etc., are ahead of their time, you are too advanced or modern to be understood or appreciated during the time when you live or work.

(all) in good time

: when the appropriate moment arrives : when the time is right

all (of) the time

informal : very often or frequently
usually all the time : since something began

(and) not before time (too)

chiefly British
used to say that something should have happened sooner

any time (now)

: very soon

a sign of the times

see 1sign

a stitch in time (saves nine)

see 1stitch

at all times

: without stopping or changing at any time : always

at a time

: during one particular moment
: during one period of time without stopping
◊ If you take one day at a time or take it/things one day at a time, you make progress in a slow and careful way by dealing with each day as it comes.

at the same time

: during the same moment
used to introduce a statement that adds to and differs from a preceding statement

at times

: sometimes

before your time

used to say that something happened before you were born or before you were involved in some activity
◊ If you become old before your time, you look and feel older than you are.
◊ If you die before your time, you die at a younger age than you should.

behind the times

: not having or showing knowledge of current ideas or styles : outdated

be living on borrowed time

see borrow

better luck next time

see 1luck

bide your time

see bide

buy time

see 1buy

call time

US, sports : to ask for a time-out : to give the order for a time-out
British
: to announce that it is time for a bar or pub to close
: to say or decide that something has ended : to end something usually + on

for the time being

: during the present time but possibly not in the future

from time to time

: sometimes

give (someone) a hard time

see 1hard

half the time

informal
: very often

hard times

see 1hard

have a thin time (of it)

see 1thin

have time

: to be able to use an amount of time for a particular purpose
often followed by to + verb
often + for
: to like or be willing to spend time dealing with (something or someone) usually + for

in no time

: very quickly or soon

in the nick of time

see 1nick

in time

: before something happens : early enough often followed by to + verb
often + for
: when an amount of time has passed

in your own (good) time

: at the time that is right or appropriate for you and not sooner

it's about time

informal
used to say often in an annoyed way that something should have happened sooner

it's high time

see 1high

keep time

of a watch or clock : to show the correct time
music : to perform music at the correct speed

make good time

: to travel somewhere quickly

make time

: to cause an amount of time to be available for an activity often + for

mark time

see 2mark

most of the time

or most times
: on most occasions : usually

ninety/ninety-nine (etc.) percent of the time

: on most occasions : usually

not give someone the time of day

◊ If you do not give someone the time of day, you do not give that person any attention or help.

of all time

: that has ever lived or existed
see also all-time

once upon a time

see 1once

(only) time will tell

used to say that the results of a situation will be known only after a certain amount of time has passed

on time

: at or before the correct moment : at a time that is not late

play for time

see 1play

stand the test of time

see 1test

take (the) time to do something

: to use an amount of time in order to do something important

take time

◊ People say that something takes some/no (etc.) time to describe how much time is needed for something to happen or be done.

take your time

: to do something slowly or without hurrying

tell time

(US) or British tell the time
: to be able to know what time it is by looking at a clock

the end of time

see 1end

the whole time

: since something began : during the entire period of time
British : always
British, informal : very often

time after time

or time and again or time and time again
: on many occasions : very often or frequently

time flies

used to say that time passes quickly

time heals all wounds

or chiefly British time is a/the great healer
used to say that feelings of sadness, disappointment, etc., gradually go away as time passes

time is money

see money

time is (not) on your side

◊ If time is on your side, you have a good chance of success because you can wait until a situation improves. If time is not on your side, your chance of success is less because you have to do something very soon.

time marches on

: time continues to pass

time was (when)

old-fashioned
used to say that something was true in the past and usually to express annoyance that it is no longer true

until such time as

formal
: until the time when : until

your (own) sweet time

chiefly US, informal
◊ If you do something in your (own) sweet time or you take your (own) sweet time about doing something, you do it slowly even though other people want you to do it more quickly.
2 time /ˈtaɪm/ verb
times; timed; timing
2 time
/ˈtaɪm/
verb
times; timed; timing
Britannica Dictionary definition of TIME
[+ object]
: to choose the hour, day, month, etc., when (something) will happen : to schedule (something, such as an event) to happen at a particular time
often used as (be) timed
see also ill-timed, well-timed
sports : to cause (something, such as a throw or pass) to happen at a certain moment
: to measure the amount of time needed by someone to do something (such as to finish a race)