Word
Definition
n. the minutes, hours, and days that pass as you live. You use it to talk about when things happen or how long they last.
n. the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole. Often used to refer to a specific point on a clock or a measured duration.
Examples
“What time does the meeting start tomorrow?”
“She spent a lot of time preparing for the exam because the material was quite difficult.”
“Philosophers and physicists have long debated whether time is a fundamental property of the universe or merely a human construct used to sequence our sensory experiences.”
Examples
simple
“What time does the meeting start tomorrow?”
contextual
“She spent a lot of time preparing for the exam because the material was quite difficult.”
complex
“Philosophers and physicists have long debated whether time is a fundamental property of the universe or merely a human construct used to sequence our sensory experiences.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “time” in context.
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general concept of duration; countable when referring to specific instances or occasions ('three times').
Pitfall
I have been here since three hours
I have been here for three hours
Learners often use 'since' to describe a duration of time, but 'since' must refer to a specific starting point.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Idioms
01. a week is a long time in politics
02. about time
03. any time now
04. any time soon
06. bide one's time
07. borrowed time
08. burn time
09. buy time
10. come to time
Show all 87
11. dawn of time
13. eat an elephant one bite at a time
15. every time
17. gain time
21. go back in time
23. have a good time
25. have a hard time
30. have a time
34. have no time for
39. high time
40. hit the big time
41. it's about time
42. keep good time
43. lead time
44. long time
46. long time no see
47. lost to time
48. make time
49. make time with
51. matter of time
52. mists of time
53. no time
54. nut-cutting time
56. play for time
57. pressed for time
58. put one's pants on one leg at a time
61. serve time
63. stall for time
65. take one's sweet little time
66. take one's time
68. take time off
69. take time out
70. time after time
73. time bandit
74. time burglar
75. time flies
76. time is ripe
77. time is short
78. time is ticking
79. time of old
81. time off
82. time out
83. time out of mind
84. time thief
85. time will tell
86. walk and chew gum at the same time
87. why in time
Grammar
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/time
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0