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Glite Dictionary
⏰ Early enough ⌛ Eventually 🎵 With the beat
in time

in time

634 1.1
Before the last moment, early enough not to be late
  • idiom
: a tiempo
  • I had just woken up, looked out my window just in time to see you vanish.
  • just in time
  • complete an assignment in time

I, I think we're still in time to, to, to curtail it.

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Examples

Synonyms

on time
vsin time
426 1.0

At the expected time

is earlier than being exactly at the scheduled minute to avoid lateness
soon enough
vsin time
189 1.7

Happens at a time that is early enough, not too late

is before the final moment rather than at the last second
just in time
vsin time
188 3.5

At the last moment before it is too late

is earlier and gives more margin before something becomes late
ahead of time
vsin time
82 2.3

Earlier than planned or expected

is about being early enough rather than notably before the plan
right on time
vsin time
46 1.2

At exactly the planned time

is earlier enough to prevent missing something rather than exact punctuality
in good time
vsin time
24 3.2

Happen at the right time, neither too late nor too early

is early enough to avoid being late rather than exactly punctual
in due time
vsin time
  • Formal
15 3.4

Something happens at the right time

is early enough to avoid missing something rather than waiting for later
in the nick of time
vsin time
  • Informal
14 3.5

Just before it is too late

is earlier and leaves more safety time before missing it
not a minute too soon
vsin time
  • Informal
2 5.9

Happens just in time before it is too late

is about arriving early enough rather than happening at the final second

Antonyms

late
955 1.0

After the usual or planned time

How Timely

in advance
295 1.8
ahead of time
82 2.3
in time
634 1.1
just in time
188 3.5
late
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

in time positive

Morphology

in + time

The sense 'eventually/after some time' follows directly from combining 'in' (locating something within a period) with 'time' (a period or moment), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer that it means 'after some time' or 'within a certain period'. This temporal preposition + noun composition is cross-linguistically common and therefore largely transparent, though fine distinctions (e.g. 'in time' vs 'on time') may require brief exposure.

Etymology

In time paints a simple clock image: imagine you get to the meeting while the clock is still running and the door is open, so you are not late. That's why it means 'early enough' to avoid missing something.