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time

time

2.0
A particular occasion when something happens or you feel it
  • noun
  • /taɪm/
translation icon : vez
  • All right, It's time to go to bed.
  • the first time
  • at the same time
  • a long time

Start on the top this time, smooth it.

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Examples

  • They are having a great time talking things out.

  • I do think the kids have a tough time knowing when they cross the line.

    Academic text (2011)
  • It's the most wonderful time of the year.

  • We may have come this time to say goodbye.

  • Again, this is our time, this is our moment.

  • Maybe it was the first time anyone ever looked at you.

  • This is the first time this has ever happened to me!

  • A man should spend time with his family.

  • This is not the time to be heartbroken.

  • It was the best time we ever had at the amusement park.

Synonyms

moment
vstime
1.0

A very short time or a particular point in time

is broader, used for whole events or durations rather than tiny instants
period
vstime
2.1

A length of time with a clear start and end, like a class or game segment

is the general word for any event or duration beyond specific fields
occasion
vstime
942 3.1

A special time or event when something happens

is a broader label for any event or span rather than only special cases
point in time
vstime
133 3.3

An exact moment when something happens

is the broader term for either an event or a longer span
spell
vstime
109 2.7

A short period of time when something happens, like bad weather

is the more general term for events or longer durations
time period
vstime
93 2.2

A length of time that includes certain events

is a broader word for either an event or an unspecified length
time frame
vstime
87 3.1

A fixed period when something happens or is expected to happen

is the broader concept covering any event or span without expectation
time interval
vstime
4 3.3

A period between two events that you can measure

is broader, applying to events or unspecific lengths not only measured ones
elapsed time
vstime
1 3.4

Time that passes between two events

is about specific events or durations rather than measured amounts
timespan
vstime
1 3.4

A period of time between a start and an end

is the general term for an event or an unspecified duration

Idioms

1.0

Happens without stopping

During the same time or moment

768 1.0

Together in a single group

750 1.0

On a single occasion

524 1.1

Before the last moment, early enough not to be late

491 3.5

After some time has passed, not right away

348 1.0

Again on another occasion

321 1.0

At the expected time

Happens sometimes but not regularly

Shows a contrast with what was just said

174 1.3

Very quickly, in a short time

171 3.2

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

167 3.5

At the last moment before it is too late

112 2.8

In the past

107 1.9

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

For now until the situation changes

It will certainly happen, but you do not know when

At the right moment to do something

76 2.3

Earlier than planned or expected

73 1.8

Very often on many occasions

about time
  • Informal
60 4.9

Say this when something happens later than it should

57 3.3

Not likely to happen in the near future

Something happens on every occasion without exception

time and again
  • Informal
47 1.8

Happens again and again

43 1.2

At exactly the planned time

At the present time

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

32 2.5

Happening at the same time

high time
  • Informal
30 3.8

The moment when something should finally happen because it is overdue

30 3.4

Free time when someone has nothing to do and can choose what to do

29 3.7

A very fun and memorable experience

time of day
  • Informal
23 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

Having ideas or work more modern than most people of the time

To be in a place where trouble happens by chance

16 3.2

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

14 3.5

Just before it is too late

in due time
  • Formal
13 3.4

Something happens at the right time

13 2.2

At the right beat so movement matches the music

12 1.6

Likely to happen at any moment

against time
  • Informal
12 3.8

Working quickly to finish something before a deadline

Happens very quickly, faster than usual

11 3.3

Not having enough time to do what you need

pressed for time
  • Informal
10 4.2

When you have very little time you need to hurry

time of it
  • Informal
10 8.1

A period when someone has many problems to deal with

What happens becomes clear later

8 4.5

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

7 4.5

To become very successful and famous in your work

A situation that needs action right away

6 2.6

It happens often

5 8.1

Show no attention or respect to someone

3 2.7

Paid for by regular smaller payments instead of one payment

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

1.0

A time when people have fun

382 2.9

A period when someone has difficulty or trouble

324 2.6

For the whole normal working time for a job or course

242 4.2

Better, worse, or higher than anything before now

183 1.0

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

179 1.2

More than enough time to finish something without rushing

big time
  • Informal
161 4.1

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

160 1.6

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

134 3.1

A period when someone faces problems or a lot of stress

133 3.3

An exact moment when something happens

131 1.6

Working fewer hours than in a full-time job

126 2.7

An activity that takes time but does not help you

117 1.0

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

108 3.2

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

93 2.2

A length of time that includes certain events

88 5.5

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

87 3.1

A fixed period when something happens or is expected to happen

real time
  • Specialized
77 3.7

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

77 3.0

A short time that lasts for now

72 3.1

Evening time when most people watch television

65 1.0

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

real-time
  • Specialized
57 4.3

Processing or showing information immediately as it arrives

53 1.0

The exact hour when something happens

51 1.4

For fewer hours than in a full-time job

space-time
  • Specialized
46 7.9

A way of seeing space and time as one thing

46 2.3

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

42 2.0

An area of the world that uses the same clock time

38 3.2

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

35 2.7

A set time by which you must finish something

time machine
  • Literature
30 6.5

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

30 1.0

The moment when you should leave a place

27 2.4

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

27 3.6

The time that comes after now

26 4.6

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

23 1.6

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

response time
  • Specialized
23 3.9

Time between seeing or hearing something and acting

22 2.2

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

22 2.7

A planned period for an event or activity

21 3.7

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

20 4.4

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

A long time spent doing something

good-time
  • Informal
19 7.2

Enjoying lively parties and fun with other people

19 4.7

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

hard time
  • Informal
17 8.2

A period in prison that is especially severe

13 1.9

The time it takes to go from one place to another

13 3.0

Time spent using devices with screens like phones or TVs

space-time continuum
  • Specialized
13 8.1

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

12 2.0

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

borrowed time
  • Informal
12 6.0

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

crunch time
  • Informal
12 4.2

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

12 3.9

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

11 3.2

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

11 3.7

The time between seeing or hearing something and acting on it

9 6.8

The time when a woman has her monthly period

9 1.1

The time when a movie or play starts

8 1.0

The time of year when farmers gather crops from fields

Time of day when people eat breakfast

7 3.1

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

The standard time for the eastern United States, five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time

time series
  • Specialized
7 3.7

A list of numbers measured one after another at regular steps to show change, for example daily temperature or sales

umpteenth time
  • Informal
7 7.3

A very large number of times that shows someone is annoyed

face time
  • Jargon
7 4.0

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

lead time
  • Specialized
7 4.5

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

Pay equal to one and a half times the normal rate for overtime work

A very long time in the past that people cannot remember

The latest time a guest must leave a hotel room

4 3.2

A machine that records when workers start and finish work

A period between two events that you can measure

An activity that uses your time but does not help you

just-in-time
  • Specialized
4 5.0

A system that makes or gets parts exactly when needed to avoid keeping stock

How Significant

turning point
104 3.7
milestone
103 3.2
time
2.0
event
1.0
instance
2.6

Surface Forms

time singular
times plural

Etymology

Time originally meant 'a period' or 'season', so it naturally came to mean a particular occasion or event. That's why we talk about having a 'good time' at a party or remembering a special 'time'.