time

TYM/taɪm/

29 meanings of time

1
instancenouncountable
One occasion when something happens.
Let's try one more time.
This is the third time I've lost my keys this week.
UsageSay once, twice, then three times. Say this is the first time I've seen it.
Similaroccasion
2
moment (for something)nouncountable
A certain moment, or the right one, for something to happen.
It's time for bed.
We must wait for the right time.
UsageSay it's time to go, it's time for bed, or it's time we went.
Similarmoment, point
Note
3
hours to usenoununcountable
The hours, minutes or days you have available to do something.
More time is needed to finish the project.
Are you done yet? Time's up!
UsageUse time to + verb (time to read) or time for + noun (time for lunch).
4
nouncountable
How long something takes, as a measurement.
It took a long time to find the house.
Only your best time counts.
UsageSay a time of with the result: a winning time of two hours.
Similarduration
5
what o'clocknoununcountable
The hour and minute of the day, as a clock shows it, e.g. 'What time is it?'
Can you check the time? I don't want to miss the bus.
What time is it, ten o'clock?
UsageDo you have the time? means what time is it. Do you have time? means are you free.
6
nouncountable
A period in history or in someone's life, or the conditions people live in.
In Roman times this was a port.
That's the way things were in my grandfather's time.
UsageSay in Roman times, with times. Hard times means a difficult period.
Similarera, age, period, epoch, day
Note
7
ongoing passingnoununcountable
The constant passing of events from the past, through the present, into the future.
Time stops for nobody.
Time moves on, and nothing stays the same forever.
UsageSay time flies, with no the in front.
8
multipliernouncountable
Used to multiply one number by another or to compare amounts.
A blue whale is many times bigger than an elephant.
Her new flat is five times the size of mine.
UsageSay three times as big as or three times bigger.
9
clock standardnouncountable
A system for setting clocks, such as one used in a region.
Chicago is on Central time, one hour behind New York.
The train runs on Eastern time.
UsageSay 3 p.m. local time or Eastern time.
Note

Less common meanings

10
experiencenouncountable
An experience, good or bad.
My grandmother went through a tough time after she lost her husband.
Did you have a good time on your trip to the beach?
UsageSay have a good time. Have a hard time doing something means it was difficult.
11
measure how longverbtransitive
To measure how long something takes.
I timed myself running around the block.
Time the eggs for exactly four minutes.
UsageSay a runner was timed at ten seconds.
Similarclock
12
pick the momentverbtransitive
To choose when something happens or how long it lasts.
The President timed his speech badly.
Try to time your arrival for after the rush.
UsageSay well timed or badly timed, or timed to start at nine.
Similarschedule, set
Note
13
prison sentencenounslanguncountable
A period spent in prison.
He isn't living at home because he's doing time.
Her brother did time for stealing cars when he was young.
UsageSay someone did time or served time in prison.
14
halt (sports)nounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
In sports, a short stop in play.
The coach called time with ten seconds left.
The referee called time so the injured player could get help.
UsageSay a coach calls time. To call time on something means to end it.
Note
15
noununcountable
In physics, the dimension that orders events from past to future, alongside the three dimensions of space.
Physicists and novelists both write about travel through time.
Space has three dimensions and time is the fourth.
Note
16
speed (music)noununcountable
In music, the speed and regularity of the beat.
The band played the sad song in slow time.
The soldiers marched past in quick time.
Similartempo, rhythm
Note
17
beat patternnoununcountable
In music, the pattern and steadiness of the beat, as in 'three-four time' or 'keep time'.
The piece is in triple time.
Common time has four beats to the bar.
Similarmeter, rhythm
Note
18
keep the beatverbtransitive
To beat out a rhythm, or to move in step with one.
Try to time your steps to the music.
The kids timed their clapping to the song.
19
deathnouncountable or uncountable
With 'his', 'her' and so on, the moment someone is fated to die.
It was his time, the nurse said gently.
Nobody knows when their time will come.
UsageDied before her time means died too young.
20
childbirthnouncountable or uncountable
The moment when a baby is due to be born.
Note
21
closing call (pub)interjection
Called out by a bartender to say the pub is closing.
Time, gentlemen, please!
Time at the bar, the landlady called.
UsageOften shouted as Time, please!
Note
22
nounUKcountable or uncountable
In pubs, the hour when the bar closes.
When the bartender called time, we finished our drinks and headed home.
The landlord called time at eleven.
Note
23
umpire's shoutinterjection
Called out by a referee or umpire to start or stop a round, or to tell players to start again.
Time! The fighters broke apart.
The timekeeper shouts time and rings the bell.
24
noun
In physics, what lets a system be in more than one state.
25
noun
A plain, steady beat in music, played with nothing extra added.
26
nounobsolete
A verb form that shows when something happens.
27
noundialectalMulticultural London English
Slang for a long while, used mainly by young people in London.
28
verbobsolete
To mark a beat or move in step with a rhythm.
With oar strokes timing to their song.
1861, John Greenleaf Whittier, At Port Royal
29
verbobsolete
To let time pass, or to wait before acting.

Practice

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Origin

From Old English tīma, meaning a period or season of time. It goes back to older Germanic forms and an Indo-European root meaning "to divide," and is related to the word tide.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

Time descends from Old English tīma. en.wiktionary.org
Old English tīma meant a period or season of time. en.wiktionary.org
The word descends from older Germanic forms. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from an Indo-European root meaning to divide. en.wiktionary.org
Time and tide are etymologically related. en.wiktionary.org