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time definition

time (tīm)

noun

Etymology: ME < OE tima, prob. < IE *dī-men < base *dā(i)-, to part, divide up > tide

interjection

Sports used to signify that a period of play or activity has ended or that play is temporarily suspended

transitive verb timed, timing tim′·ing

  1. to arrange or set the time of so as to be acceptable, suitable, opportune, etc. to time an invasion
  2. to adjust, set, play, etc. so as to coincide in time with something else to time one's watch with another's
  3. to regulate (a mechanism) for a given speed or length of operation
  4. to set the duration of (a syllable or musical note) as a unit of rhythm
  5. to calculate or record the pace, speed, finishing time, etc. of; clock to time a runner

intransitive verb

Rare to move in time; keep time

adjective

  1. having to do with time
  2. set or regulated so as to explode, open, etc. at a given time a time bomb
  3. payable later or on a specified future date a time loan
  4. ☆ designating or of any of a series of payments made or to be made over a period of time a time payment
time Idioms

abreast of the times

  1. up-to-date, as in ideas, fashions, etc.; modern
  2. informed about current matters

against time

in an effort to finish in a given time

ahead of time

☆
sooner than due; early

at one time

  1. simultaneously
  2. formerly

at the same time

  1. simultaneously; in the same period
  2. nonetheless; however

at times

occasionally; sometimes

behind the times

out-of-date; old-fashioned

behind time

late

between times

at intervals, as between other events or actions

do time

Informal to serve a prison term

for the time being

for the present; temporarily

from time to time

at intervals; now and then

gain time

  1. to go too fast: said of a timepiece
  2. to prolong a situation until a desired occurrence can take place

in good time

  1. at the proper time
  2. in a creditably short time; quickly

in no time

almost instantly; very quickly

in time

  1. in the course of time; eventually
  2. before it is too late
  3. keeping the set rhythm, tempo, pace, etc.

lose time

  1. to go too slow: said of a timepiece
  2. to let time go by without advancing one's objective

make time

  1. to compensate for lost time by going faster: said as of a train
  2. ☆ to travel, work, etc. at a specified, especially fast, rate of speed we made (good) time between Boston and Albany

make time with

☆
Slang to succeed in attracting or having an affair with (a person)

many a time

often; frequently

on one's own time

☆
during time for which one is not paid; during other than working hours

on time

  1. ☆ at the appointed time; punctual or punctually
  2. ☆ to be paid for in installments over a period of time

out of time

  1. not at the usual time; unseasonable
  2. not keeping the set rhythm, tempo, pace, etc.

pass the time of day

to exchange a few words of greeting, etc.

time after time

again and again; continually
also time and again

time of life

age (of a person)

time of one's life

☆
Informal an experience of great pleasure for one

time on one's hands

an interval with nothing to do

time out of mind

time immemorial (sense )

time was

there was a time

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms time idiom

law time definition - legal

medical time definition - medical

time Synonyms

time

n.

  1. Duration

    continuance, lastingness, extent, chronology, past, present, future, infinity, space-time; see also today.

    Units of measure for time include: millisecond, age, eon, era, epoch, nanosecond, second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, term, decade, generation, lifetime, century, millennium, aeon; moment, instant, watch, tour, tour of duty, work period, shift, swing shift*, graveyard shift*, cat-eye shift*.

  2. A point in time

    moment, incident, event, occurrence, occasion, time and tide, instant, term, season, tide, course, sequence, point, generation; see also moment 1.

  3. A period of time

    season, era, interval; see age 3, period 1.

  4. Experience

    background, living, participation; see experience 1.

  5. Leisure

    opportunity, spare time, free moment, ease, liberty, chance; see also freedom 1.

  6. Credit

    account, trust, terms, delayable payment; see credit 4, loan.

  7. Circumstances; usually plural; used with ""the''

    conditions, the present, nowadays, juncture; see circumstance 1, circumstances 2.

  8. A measure of speed

    tempo, beat, rate, meter, rhythm, cadence, swing, accent, bounce*, lift*. *

  9. A standard of measuring time].

    Time zones and standards include: Greenwich, mean, sidereal, apparent, solar, Standard, Atlantic Standard, Eastern Standard, Central Standard, Mountain Standard, Pacific Standard, Yukon Standard, Alaska Standard, Hawaii Standard, Samoa Standard, daylight-savings, astronomical, nautical.

  10. A standard of measuring rhythm in music].

    Musical times include: simple, compound, duple, two-part, triple, three-part, quadruple, four-part, quintuple, five-part, sextuple, six-part, septuple, seven-part, nonuple, nine-part, three-four, three-quarter, mixed.

abreast of the times

up-to-date, informed, aware; see modern 1.

ahead of time

ahead of schedule, fast, earlier than expected; see early 2.

at one time

  1. simultaneously, concurrently, at once;

  2. once, once upon a time, previously.

at the same time

simultaneously, concurrently, at once; see together 2.

at times

occasionally, sometimes, once in a while; see seldom.

behind the times

out of date, archaic, antediluvian; see old-fashioned.

behind time

tardy, delayed, coming later; see late 1.

between times

now and then, occasionally, sometimes; see seldom.

do time*

serve a prison term, go to jail, be imprisoned; see serve time.

for a time

awhile, for a while, for some time; see awhile, temporarily.

for some time

for a while, for quite a while, for a time, for a long time; see awhile.

for the time being

for the present, for now, under consideration; see temporarily.

from time to time

occasionally, sometimes, once in a while; see frequently.

in due time

eventually, at an appropriate time, in the natural course of events; see finally 2, ultimately.

in good time

at the proper time, in a short time, soon; see quickly 1.

in no time

almost instantly, very rapidly, without delay; see quickly 1, soon 1.

in time

  1. eventually, after the proper time, inevitably;

  2. on time, in the nick of time, not a minute too soon, under the wire.

  3. on the beat, simultaneously, up to tempo;

kill time

fill in the time, waste time, idle; see wait 1.

lose time

go too slow, tarry, cause a delay; see delay 1.

make time

gain time, hasten; see hurry 1.

make time with*

attract, lure, charm; see seduce.

many a time

often, regularly, consistently; see frequently.

on time

  1. at the appointed time, punctually, correct;

  2. by credit, in installments, on account;

out of time

out of pace, unreasonable, improper; see untimely.

pass the time of day

exchange greetings, chat, converse; see greet.

take one's own (sweet) time

dawdle, fool around, dilly-dally*; see delay 1, loiter.


time

v.

register distance, sound a bell, clock, determine timing of, measure time; see also measure 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

time Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • wait: We report an empirical analysis of the responses of the supply and demand for secondary care to waiting list size and waiting times.

Adjective modifier

  • several: The regiment was employed in the Aid of Civil Power several times in the North of Ireland, from July to October.

Noun used with modifier

  • opening: Telephone NHS Direct ( 0845 46 47 ) for their Christmas opening times.
  • part: PART TIME GUIDANCE AWARDS UWE also offers a range of part-time programs which can be joined at any point in the academic year.

Preposition: of

  • writing: At time of writing, not all of the new rules regarding suspensions were available: those that were are described here.
time usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

time quotes

   And meanwhiletime goes about its immemorial workof making everyone look and feel like shit.

-Amis, Martin Louis

   Though raging stormes movis us to shake, And wind makis waters overflow; We yield thereto bot dois not break And in the calm bent up we grow. So baneist men, though princes rage, And prisoners, be not despairit. Abide the calm, whill that it 'suage, For time sic causis has repairit.

-Anonymous

Salud, Dinero, Amor†yTiempo. Health,Wealth, Love†and Time to enjoy them.

-Anonymous

time quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"time." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/time>

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time. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/time

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