time

I UK [taɪm] / US noun
Word forms "time":
singular time plural times
***

Metaphor:

Time is like money or like something that you buy and use. I've spent a lot of time on this project. ♦ We are running out of time. ♦ You have used up all the time you had left. ♦ Stop wasting time. ♦ We've managed to buy ourselves some more time. ♦ I can only afford to spend a few hours on it. ♦ I have no further time to spare. ♦ Has this been a valuable/profitable use of your time? ♦ It isn't worth waiting any longer. ♦ She has every kind of time-saving device. ♦ Her time there was very precious to her. ♦ Every single minute of his day is accounted for.
Differences between British and American English: time:
British speakers ask what time it is by asking "Have you got the time?" or "What time do you make it?" American speakers ask "Do you have the time?" or "What time do you have?" In the UK, if children can read a clock face you say that they can tell the time. In the US, you say that they can tell time. In British English, you say the time is "ten to three" (2:50) or "ten past three" (3:10). American speakers say "ten of three" or "ten after three".

1) [uncountable] the quantity that you measure using a clock

Time seemed to pass more quickly than before.

a) [countable/uncountable] a particular moment during a day, measured on a clock

What time does the film start?

What time is it?

tell the time (= be able to understand what the time is by looking at a clock):

We're teaching them how to tell the time.

at this time of day:

She won't be busy at this time of day.

b) [uncountable] the time in a particular part of the world

It was six o'clock in the morning, Pacific Standard Time.

See:

local time

2) [countable] a particular amount of time

a long/short time:

She thought about it for a long time.

She left a short time ago.

a/the length of time:

There have been improvements in the length of time patients have to wait for treatment.

a) [often plural] a period in history

in the time between the wars

Not since Roman times had a single nation been so powerful.

time of:

It was a time of tremendous political uncertainty.

b) a period in someone's life

someone's time as something:

She thoroughly enjoyed her time as manager.

someone's time at something:

He speaks of his time at university as a happy one.

an easy/hard time:

When the kids were young it was a particularly hard time.

3) [countable] an occasion

the time (when) someone does something:

Do you remember the time we drove the car to Paris?

the first/second/last etc time:

It was the first time we'd met.

(the) next time:

The next time you need financial advice, come and see me.

a) [countable] an experience

a good/bad time:

It's my job to make sure the guests have a good time.

b) [countable/uncountable] a moment

at the/that/this time:

I was sitting by the window at the time.

at the time of doing something/at the time you do something:

You can get travel insurance at the time of booking.

at the time of writing (= when this article, report etc was written):

No medical evidence was available at the time of writing.

c) [uncountable] a particular point when something happens

She left the bar a few minutes before closing time.

time for:

They said they would call us when it was time for dinner.

it's time (that) someone did something/was doing something:

Isn't it time the children went to bed?

It's time we were leaving.

d) [singular] a particular moment that is suitable or not suitable for something

When would be a good time to discuss it?

I'm afraid now isn't a very convenient time for me.

the right/wrong time:

Now seemed the right time to make a change.

e) [countable] used for saying how often something happens

Check the temperature two or three times a day.

4) [uncountable] the time that is available for something

She will have less time to spend with family and friends now.

a) [countable/uncountable] the amount of time that you need for a particular activity

Bad weather could add another hour to your journey time.

We have reduced the delivery time from four days to two.

b) [countable] the amount of time that someone takes to finish a race

She's cut two seconds off her previous best time.

5) [uncountable] music the speed at which a piece of music is played, measured as the number of beats in each bar

a piece in 6–8 time

•

ahead of your/its etc time — much more modern or advanced than most other people or things

As an artist, he was years ahead of his time.

find (the) time — to make some of your time available for a particular purpose

I should be able to find time to do it tomorrow.

the first/second etc time round/around — the first/second etc time that something happens

Looking after a baby is much easier the second time around.

for days/weeks etc at a time — continuously for a period of several days/weeks etc

He would go off for days at a time without telling anyone where he was.

in no time (at all)= in next to no time — very soon, or very quickly

We'll have that fixed in no time.

in your own (good) time — spoken when you are ready and not before. This expression is often used humorously for telling someone that you are waiting for them to do something

In your own time, start the engine and put the car into gear.

it's only a matter/question of time — mainly spoken used for saying that something will definitely happen, but you are not sure when

It's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt.

make good/excellent time — to make a journey in a shorter time than you expected

We made good time and arrived by midday.

make (the) time — to make some of your time available for a particular purpose

I'll try and make time to deal with it next week.

time was (when) — used for talking about the past, especially when you think this was better than the present

Time was when this city was all fields.

- about time

- against time

- ahead of time

- all the time

- at a time

- at all times

- at no time

- at one time

- at this time

- at times

- be out of time

- before your time

- by the time

- call time

- do time

- for a time

- for some time

- from time to time

- half the time

- have all the time in the world

- have a lot of time for

- have no time for

- in your own time

- in someone's time

- in time

- keep time

- kill time

- lose time

- not have much time for

- of all time

- on time

- over time

- pass the time

- there's a first time for everything

- there's no time to lose

- time after time

- time and a half

- time flies

- time is money

- time is of the essence

- time is on your side

- time of the month

- time waits for no one

- time will tell

- when the time comes

- the whole time

- with time

- with time to spare

See:

best II, for, good I, hard I, high I, mark II, move I, old, once, nine, play I, present III, ripe

II UK [taɪm] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "time":
present tense I/you/we/they time he/she/it times present participle timing past tense timed past participle timed
**

1)

a) to arrange something so that it happens at a particular time

The exhibition has been timed to coincide with the publication of her new book.

b) to do something by chance at a particular moment

You timed that well: we're just about to have something to eat.

2) to hit a ball well or badly in sport because of the exact moment when you hit it

beautifully/perfectly timed:

Murray's perfectly timed pass set Snell up for a well-taken goal.

3) to use a clock to measure something, for example how long something lasts or how often something happens within a particular period

a simple device for timing the human heartbeat