plural times
1
2
: the point or period when something occurs : occasion
3
a
: an appointed, fixed, or customary moment or hour for something to happen, begin, or end
arrived ahead of time
b
: an opportune or suitable moment
decided it was time to retire
—often used in the phrase about timeabout time for a change
4
a
: a historical period : age
b
: a division of geologic chronology
c
: conditions at present or at some specified period
—usually used in plural
times are hard
move with the times
d
: the present time
issues of the time
5
6
: season
very hot for this time of year
8
a
: a moment, hour, day, or year as indicated by a clock or calendar
what time is it
b
: any of various systems (such as a sidereal or solar system) of reckoning time
9
a
: one of a series of recurring instances or repeated actions
you've been told many times
b
times plural
(1)
: added or accumulated quantities or instances
five times greater
(2)
: equal fractional parts of which an indicated number equal a comparatively greater quantity
seven times smaller
three times closer
c
: turn
three times at bat
10
: finite as contrasted with infinite duration
11
: a person's experience during a specified period or on a particular occasion
a good time
a hard time
12
a
: the hours or days required to be occupied by one's work
make up time
on company time
b
: an hourly pay rate
straight time
c
: wages paid at discharge or resignation
pick up your time and get out
13
a
: the playing time of a game
b
14
: a period during which something is used or available for use
computer time
see also a race against time, take one's time
timed; timing
1
a
: to arrange or set the time of : schedule
b
: to regulate (a watch) to keep correct time
2
: to set the tempo, speed, or duration of
timed his leap perfectly—
Neil Amdur
Neil Amdur3
: to cause to keep time with something
4
: to determine or record the time, duration, or rate of
time a horse
5
: to dispose (something, such as a mechanical part) so that an action occurs at a desired instant or in a desired way
: to keep or beat time
1
a
: of or relating to time
b
: recording time
2
: timed to ignite or explode at a specific moment
a time charge
3
a
: payable on a specified future day or a certain length of time after presentation for acceptance
a time draft
time deposits
b
: based on installment payments
a time sale
Phrases
at the same time
: nevertheless, yet
slick and at the same time strangely unprofessional—Gerald Weaks
Gerald Weaks
: at intervals : occasionally
: for the present
: once in a while : occasionally
: very quickly or soon
1
a
: at the appointed time
b
: on schedule
2
: on the installment plan
Synonyms
Examples of time in a Sentence
Noun
The two events were separated by time and space.
The poem is a reflection on the passage of time.
What was happening at that particular moment in time?
It has been that way since the beginning of time.
If only I could travel back in time and do things differently.
They were given a relatively short amount of time to finish the job.
The situation has been getting more complicated as time goes by.
happening for an extended period of time
Would you prefer the meeting to be at an earlier time?
Feel free to call me at any time, day or night.
Verb
They timed their vacation to coincide with the jazz festival.
He timed it so that he made the shot just before the clock ran out.
She timed the shot perfectly.
The runners are timed with special watches.
He timed the students as they completed their tests.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alyssa Ages, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
But Fox scored twice in the second half and Creek beat Grandview for the second time in three weeks.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024
Paula Aceves, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
There is currently no federal law requiring organizations to give their employees time off to vote during working hours.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
Clark Collis, EW.com, 24 June 2020
Cons: The Jazz feature two multi-time All-Stars — Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell — and a roster that has more playoff experience than the Mavericks’ core.
—Dallas News, 5 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for time 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Choosing a Weight For your first time, Blinch recommends going easy.
—Alyssa Ages, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
But Fox scored twice in the second half and Creek beat Grandview for the second time in three weeks.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024
Verb
Each word has a gesture attached to it, and something as simple as setting a cup down had to be intentional, timed to the second.
—Paula Aceves, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
There is currently no federal law requiring organizations to give their employees time off to vote during working hours.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
We’re used to seeing the Doctor traveling through space and time, neither of which is possible for non-Time Lords at the moment.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 24 June 2020
Cons: The Jazz feature two multi-time All-Stars — Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell — and a roster that has more playoff experience than the Mavericks’ core.
—Dallas News, 5 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for time
Dictionary Entries Near time
Cite this Entry
“Time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
time
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues : duration
was gone a long time
it rained all the time during our vacation
b
: part of the day when one is free to do as one pleases
find time for reading
2
: a point or period when something occurs : occasion
remember the time you entered the pie-eating contest
3
: a set or usual moment or hour for something to happen, begin, or end
arrived ahead of time
4
a
: a historical period : age
in your grandparents' time
b
: conditions of a specified period
times are hard
move with the times
5
: a prison sentence
doing time for robbery
6
: the rhythmic grouping of beats in music shown in the time signature
7
a
: a moment, hour, day, or year as indicated by a clock or calendar
what time is it
b
: a system of determining time
8
a
: one of a series of repeated instances or actions
told you many times
b
plural
: added or accumulated quantities or examples
five times greater
c
plural
: equal parts of which an indicated number make up a greater quantity
five times smaller
d
: turn entry 2 sense 5b
three times at bat
9
: a person's experience during a certain period
had the time of their lives
had quite a time staying in the saddle
10
: time-out
called time
time
2 of 2 verb
timed; timing
1
: to arrange or set the time or rate at which something happens
2
: to measure or record the time, duration, or rate of
timed the race
Medical Definition
time
noun1
a
: the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues see bleeding time, coagulation time, prothrombin time, reaction time
b
: a continuum which lacks spatial dimensions and in which events succeed one another from past through present to future
2
: the point or period when something occurs
3
: a moment, hour, day, or year as indicated by a clock or calendar
what time is it
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