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time

time

56 7.3
A regular pattern of beats in music
  • noun
  • /taɪm/
  • Specialized
: compás
  • Traffic cam shot this six blocks away around the time of death.
  • 4/4 time
  • time signature
  • common time

So when you're playing those syncopations against the time, if this moves, it's not happening.

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Examples

  • Well, procedures only work if we follow them every time.

  • And then it was time for the main attraction of the night.

  • For most of us, there is a direct correlation between time and learning: the more time, the more learning.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Otherwise you've got committee meetings all the time and nobody knows where they are.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The continual integration in musical time of hearing, analyzing, moving, improvising, and notating is important in Dalcroze teaching.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The drummer kept the time perfectly, allowing the band to stay in sync.

  • In music class, we learned how to count time by clapping along to the beat.

  • Understanding time is essential for musicians to create a harmonious rhythm.

Synonyms

beat
vstime
489 1.0

A regular rhythm like the sound in music or a heartbeat

is the overall metrical structure organizing pulses and recurring accents
rhythm
vstime
376 3.3

A regular pattern of sounds and movements, often in music or dance

is broader, applying to many fields beyond measured musical patterns
meter
vstime
  • Literature
7 6.0

A regular pattern of strong and weak beats in a poem or song

is focused on measured musical rhythm marked by regular beats and accents
time signature
vstime
  • Specialized
3 4.7

A sign at the start of music that shows beats in each bar and which note gets one beat

is the metrical rhythm in sound not the written indicator
common time
vstime
  • Specialized
1 5.2

A beat pattern in music with four beats in each bar, often shown as C

is the metrical concept itself rather than the notation symbol used for four beat bars
four-four time
vstime
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A musical beat pattern with four beats in each bar

is the broad metrical concept rather than that specific four beat signature
musical rhythm
vstime
  • Specialized
1 3.2

A regular pattern of beats in a song or dance that gives music its timing

is the metrical pattern especially marked by a steady succession of accents
measured rhythm
vstime
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A pattern of notes where each note has a set length based on a beat, without regular strong beats

is the metrical pattern defined by a steady repetition of accents
pulsebeat
vstime
1 4.8

A steady beat that gives the basic timing in music or poems

is the measured metrical pattern marked by a regular succession of accents
quadruple time
vstime
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A way of counting music in groups of four beats

is the general measured pattern not limited to a specific four beat grouping
musical time
vstime
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A steady beat musicians follow to keep notes and players together

is the measured, regular pattern specifically marked by repeating accents
common measure
vstime
  • Specialized
4.6

A time pattern in music with four beats in each bar

is the general metrical pattern across music not the specific four beat signature
triple time
vstime
  • Specialized
6.6

A pattern in music with three beats in each bar

is the broad metrical pattern not restricted to groups of three beats
duple time
vstime
  • Specialized
7.4

A rhythm with two beats in each bar, like many marches

is the general metrical structure not confined to two beat groupings
musical time signature
vstime
  • Specialized
4.2

A symbol in written music that shows how many beats are in each measure and which note gets one beat

is the musical metrical pattern itself rather than the written sign

Idioms

∞ 1.0

Happens without stopping

∞ 1.0

On a single occasion

During the same time or moment

757 1.0

Together in a single group

634 1.1

Before the last moment, early enough not to be late

426 1.0

At the expected time

413 1.0

Again on another occasion

381 1.9

Handle each person or thing in turn, not all at once

Shows a contrast with what was just said

257 3.5

After some time has passed, not right away

about time
  • Informal
249 4.9

Say this when something happens later than it should

Happens sometimes but not regularly

228 3.2

A phrase people use to say someone or something is the best ever

188 3.5

At the last moment before it is too late

It will certainly happen, but you do not know when

156 1.3

Very quickly, in a short time

147 2.8

In the past

time and again
  • Informal
123 1.8

Happens again and again

For now until the situation changes

At the right moment to do something

82 2.3

Earlier than planned or expected

68 1.8

Very often on many occasions

65 3.3

Not likely to happen in the near future

Something happens on every occasion without exception

52 2.5

Happening at the same time

At the present time

46 1.2

At exactly the planned time

To do a task slowly, handling each part before the next

high time
  • Informal
36 3.8

The moment when something should finally happen because it is overdue

What happens becomes clear later

To be in a place where trouble happens by chance

time of day
  • Informal
27 8.3

A simple sign of attention or notice, often not given to someone

Being where luck gives you the best chance to do well

24 3.2

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

23 8.1

Show no attention or respect to someone

Lots of time that helps you succeed

18 2.9

At twice the normal speed to move or work

in due time
  • Formal
15 3.4

Something happens at the right time

14 1.6

Likely to happen at any moment

Happens very quickly, faster than usual

14 3.5

Just before it is too late

Something that happened before you were born or before you knew about it

A situation that needs action right away

against time
  • Informal
12 3.8

Working quickly to finish something before a deadline

12 3.6

Focus on today and do not worry about the future

time of it
  • Informal
12 8.1

A period when someone has many problems to deal with

pressed for time
  • Informal
11 4.2

When you have very little time you need to hurry

11 4.1

A friendly phrase that wishes someone more success next time

11 4.5

A situation where people must finish something quickly before it is too late

10 3.3

Not having enough time to do what you need

9 2.2

At the right beat so movement matches the music

Find it very difficult to do something

Compounds

∞ 1.0

An occasion when someone does or experiences something they have not done before

∞ 1.0

A period lasting many days or years

∞ 1.0

A period that lasts much longer than usual

886 1.0

A time when people have fun

522 2.9

A period when someone has difficulty or trouble

421 4.2

Better, worse, or higher than anything before now

407 2.6

For the whole normal working time for a job or course

259 1.0

A part of the year when the weather and daily life are similar

229 2.7

An activity that takes time but does not help you

209 1.2

More than enough time to finish something without rushing

184 1.6

A time when you are not working, often to rest or recover

176 1.6

Working fewer hours than in a full-time job

169 3.1

A period when someone faces problems or a lot of stress

154 2.3

A short break from an activity to rest or talk about what to do next

big time
  • Informal
131 4.1

A very successful level in entertainment or sport where people become famous

real time
  • Specialized
125 3.7

The time when you get information at once, for example stock prices or a heart rate

124 2.2

A length of time that includes certain events

123 3.3

An exact moment when something happens

119 1.0

A time when you are not working and can do things you enjoy

117 5.5

An act of moving from one time to another, often to the past or future

116 3.2

Being in the same job, relationship, or role for many years

111 3.0

A short time that lasts for now

time machine
  • Literature
107 6.5

An imaginary machine that lets a person go to the past or future

93 3.1

A fixed period when something happens or is expected to happen

93 3.1

Evening time when most people watch television

84 1.0

The exact hour when something happens

81 2.4

The time used in the eastern United States, for example New York

time of life
  • Informal
77 4.3

A very enjoyable experience you remember

73 3.2

A short break in a game when play stops so players rest or talk about their plan

real-time
  • Specialized
72 4.3

Processing or showing information immediately as it arrives

67 1.4

For fewer hours than in a full-time job

space-time
  • Specialized
66 7.9

A way of seeing space and time as one thing

64 1.0

Time when you are not working or busy and can choose what to do

55 2.0

An area of the world that uses the same clock time

52 2.7

A set time by which you must finish something

34 4.6

A problem that will become dangerous in the future if not fixed

31 1.1

The time when a movie or play starts

31 3.7

A short time that is calm and quiet for rest or thinking

29 4.4

A container buried to show people in the future what life was like today

29 1.6

Official clock time used in a place because of its time zone

27 3.6

The time that comes after now

game time
  • Informal
26 2.7

The moment when an important activity is about to start

response time
  • Specialized
26 3.9

Time between seeing or hearing something and acting

24 2.7

A planned period for an event or activity

23 2.2

The time when a shop or other place stops serving customers and closes

A long time spent doing something

21 4.7

Valued and kept because people have done it for a long time

21 3.8

A stage in a person's life with typical experiences

20 3.4

A bomb set to explode at a fixed time

19 3.2

Time used in the central United States and some parts of Canada and Mexico, one hour behind Eastern Time

19 3.2

Working or happening for only half the usual hours

mean time
  • Specialized
19 8.7

Time kept by an imaginary sun that moves evenly across the sky to set clocks

18 1.9

The time it takes to go from one place to another

18 3.0

Official time used in a region instead of daylight saving time

face time
  • Jargon
17 4.0

Time spent in the same place with the people you work with

15 3.9

A way of showing how long events take and when they happen

14 2.0

Free time when you are not working and can relax or do things you like

14 1.0

The moment when you should leave a place

14 3.0

Time spent using devices with screens like phones or TVs

space-time continuum
  • Specialized
14 8.1

A four-dimensional framework that joins space and time where events happen

crunch time
  • Informal
14 4.2

A short time when people must work very hard to finish something

borrowed time
  • Informal
14 6.0

A short extra time someone or something has after it was expected to end

13 2.8

A time zone eight hours behind GMT used in the western United States and parts of Canada

hard time
  • Informal
13 8.2

A period in prison that is especially severe

11 3.7

The time between seeing or hearing something and acting on it

11 1.8

The planned time when something begins

11 2.4

The hours when a person must work for their job

10 6.8

The time when a woman has her monthly period

10 3.1

The length of a movie, TV show, or performance from beginning to end

Time of day when people eat breakfast

9 1.0

The time of year when farmers gather crops from fields

9 3.2

A machine that records when workers start and finish work

lead time
  • Specialized
9 4.5

The time between starting and finishing a process often used in business

How Fast

presto
  • Specialized
1 7.3
allegro
  • Specialized
1 8.1
time
  • Specialized
56 7.3
andante
  • Specialized
1 8.2
adagio
  • Specialized
1 8.2
largo
  • Specialized
8.4

Surface Forms

time singular
times plural

Etymology

Time also came to mean a regular 'period' of beats in music, because music is made of repeating periods. That's why musicians talk about keeping time so everyone follows the rhythm.