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to time

to time

126 2.7
To measure how long something takes or when it happens
  • verb
  • /taɪm/
translation icon : cronometrar
  • She used a stopwatch to time how long it took to run the race.
  • timed test
  • timed reading
  • timed tasks

The third reason is they think they can time the market.

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Examples

  • So these are quails and we have timed it so they're hatching out today.

  • How long was the seizure? - Did you time it? -

  • Well, instead we can just time it like now, like live.

  • The third reason is they think they can time the market.

  • I have to time this just right.

  • Hurry, because I'm gonna time you.

  • You're gonna have to time it!

  • We timed it perfectly, okay?

  • But if I time it right, three and a half ounces of booze right before I go to bed helps with the dreams.

  • We'll just double-time it to your house... grab the tickets... then head to the train station... for the three forty-five to Detroit Rock City!

Synonyms

to clock
vsto time
85 3.5

To measure how long something takes, for example in a race

also arranges and controls when events happen across many situations

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

Phrasal Verbs

728 1.6

To spend time doing things that are not useful instead of doing something more useful

To enjoy yourself at an event or activity

286 2.3

To need a long time to finish

Find something difficult to do

Not enough time left to finish something

90 3.9

Make someone feel bad by criticizing or teasing them

45 3.5

Find time for something important by changing other plans

35 6.7

To spend time in prison as punishment for a crime

30 1.8

Do something in less time

To stop work for a short time to rest or deal with personal matters

Stop what you are doing to rest or do something different for a short time

Find time to do something even when busy

23 4.1

To delay something on purpose to get more time to prepare

To make someone enjoy themselves, for example when they visit

19 7.4

Have a romantic relationship with two people at the same time without them knowing

6 4.8

To delay doing something to get more time

to play for time
  • Informal
4 5.0

To delay on purpose to get more time before deciding or acting

to mark time
  • Informal
3 6.3

Spend time waiting without making progress, doing unproductive things

To put a box with items in the ground to be opened later

Give someone your full attention by being with them

1 6.1

Delay something on purpose to have more time before a decision

Show the correct time all the time

1 7.6

To do something slowly without hurrying, often slower than others expect

1 9.9

Make time feel faster, slower or strange

to burn time
  • Informal
7.5

To pass time by doing something not useful while you wait

To imagine going back to an earlier time because you regret something

6.1

To reverse recent events in a game to undo actions and try again

To do something slowly and carefully without hurrying

To spend time on things that are not useful

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 Accurate

to synchronize
  • US
49 4.7
to time
126 2.7

Surface Forms

time infinitive
timed past
timed past participle
timing present participle
times third person singular

Etymology

The verb time comes from the noun time meaning a measured 'period', so to 'time' something is to measure how long it takes or to set when it happens. That's why you 'time' a race or 'time' an oven to get the right length.