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time

time

∞ 2.0
A particular occasion when something happens or you feel it
  • noun
  • /taɪm/
: 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
762 3.1

A special time or event when something happens

is a broader label for any event or span rather than only special cases
time period
vstime
124 2.2

A length of time that includes certain events

is a broader word for either an event or an unspecified length
point in time
vstime
123 3.3

An exact moment when something happens

is the broader term for either an event or a longer span
time frame
vstime
93 3.1

A fixed period when something happens or is expected to happen

is the broader concept covering any event or span without expectation
spell
vstime
78 2.7

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

is the more general term for events or longer durations
time interval
vstime
8 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
2 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

∞ 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 Significant

turning point
110 3.7
milestone
108 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'.