From Middle English tyme, time, from Old English tīma (“time, period, space of time, season, lifetime, fixed time, favorable time, opportunity”), from Proto-West Germanic *tīmō, from Proto-Germanic *tīmô (“time”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂imō, from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂y- (“to divide”). Related to tide. Not related to Latin tempus.
Cognates
* Scots tym, tyme (“time”)
* Alemannic German Zimen, Zīmmän (“time, time of the year, opportune time, opportunity”)
* Danish time (“hour, lesson”)
* Elfdalian taime (“hour”)
* Faroese tími (“hour, lesson, time”)
* Icelandic tími (“time, season”)
* Norwegian time (“lesson, hour”)
* Swedish timma, timme (“hour”).
Meanings
Reminder by the umpire for the players to continue playing after their pause.
The umpire's call in prizefights, etc.
A call by a bartender to warn patrons that the establishment is closing and no more drinks will be served.
From Middle English tyme, time, from Old English tīma (“time, period, space of time, season, lifetime, fixed time, favorable time, opportunity”), from Proto-West Germanic *tīmō, from Proto-Germanic *tīmô (“time”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂imō, from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂y- (“to divide”). Related to tide. Not related to Latin tempus.
Cognates
* Scots tym, tyme (“time”)
* Alemannic German Zimen, Zīmmän (“time, time of the year, opportune time, opportunity”)
* Danish time (“hour, lesson”)
* Elfdalian taime (“hour”)
* Faroese tími (“hour, lesson, time”)
* Icelandic tími (“time, season”)
* Norwegian time (“lesson, hour”)
* Swedish timma, timme (“hour”).
Meanings
(uncountable) The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events.
One of the most common truisms on Earth is the advice to value or at least not waste time. Why has it become so widespread? Every person eventually realizes that time is the most valuable resource on the planet. Not oil or uranium. Not lithium or anything else, but time. Time. The very flow of time convinces us of this. Some people realize this sooner, and these are the lucky ones. Others realize it too late when they lose someone or something. People cannot avoid it, this is just a matter of time. But there is a fundamental difference that comes down to the question of time. The time of your life is under your control. The time of life of our force on the front line, the time of life of all Ukrainians who are forced to live through this terrible Russian aggression unfortunately is subject to many factors that are not all in their control. I do not wish anyone to feel like they are in my shoes, and it's impossible to give a manual on how to go through life so as not to waste time. However, one piece of advice always works. You have to know exactly why you need today and how you want your tomorrows to look like. 2023 May 26, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 0:40 from the start, in Zelenskyy surprises the Johns Hopkins commencement ceremony, MSNBC, archived from the original on 26 May 2023:
Time is the fire in which we burn. 1937, Delmore Schwartz, Calmly We Walk Through This April's Day:
Time stops for nobody. the ebb and flow of time
(uncountable) The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events. ▸ The feeling of the passage of events and their relative duration, as experienced by an individual.
Time flies when you're having fun.
(uncountable, usually) The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events. ▸ A dimension of spacetime with the opposite metric signature to space dimensions; the fourth dimension.
So long as I travelled at a high velocity through time, this scarcely mattered; I was, so to speak, attenuated – was slipping like a vapour through the interstices of intervening substances! 1895 May 29, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, The Time Machine: An Invention, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, page 31:
Both science-fiction writers and physicists have written about travel through time.
We all have a visceral understanding of what it means for the universe to have multiple space dimensions, since we live in a world in which we constantly deal with a plurality — three. But what would it mean to have multiple times? Would one align with time as we presently experience it psychologically while the other would somehow be "different"? 1999, Brian Greene, The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory, W. W. Norton & Company, published 2010, →ISBN, page 204:
(uncountable) The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events. ▸ Change associated with the second law of thermodynamics; the physical and psychological result of increasing entropy.
Eventually time would also die because no processes would continue, no light would flow. 2012, Robert Zwilling, Natural Sciences and Human Thought, Springer Science+Business Media, →ISBN, page 80:
Time slows down when you approach the speed of light.
Given the connection between increasing entropy and the arrow of time, does the Big Crunch mean that time would run backwards as soon as collapse began? 1992, Roger Highfield, Peter Coveney, Arrow of Time, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 179:
(qualifier:reductionist definition, uncountable) The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events. ▸ The property of a system which allows it to have more than one distinct configuration.
An essential definition of time should entail neither speed nor direction, just change.
(uncountable) A duration of time. ▸ A quantity of availability of duration.
During the whole time of his abode in the Univerſity he generally ſpent 13 hours of the day in Study ;[…] 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond, London, page 7:
Are you finished yet? Time’s up!
More time is needed to complete the project.
The teacher greeted us and moved methodically through the room, placing an object on each student's desk. It was a thin book―a spiral-bound planner. She strode to the front of the room. "If you want to succeed," she said, her syllables clear and careful, "you must learn to manage your time." 2021, Lisa Miller, chapter 2, in The Awakened Brain, →ISBN, page 37:
You had plenty of time, but you waited until the last minute.
(countable) A duration of time. ▸ A measurement of a quantity of time; a numerical or general indication of a length of progression.
The algorithm runs in O(n²) time.
a long time
Record the individual times for the processes in each batch.
The shock of the water, of course, woke him, and he swam for quite a time. 1938, Richard Hughes, In Hazard, London: Chatto & Windus, page 248:
I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 1:
Only your best time is compared with the other competitors.
(slang, uncountable) A duration of time. ▸ The serving of a prison sentence.
The judge leniently granted a sentence with no hard time.
He is not living at home because he is doing time.
Arrested on duty at Fort Richardson, both parents had worked hard at blaming the other for their son’s death, but Kate’s meticulous recording of the detail of the bruising found on the child’s body and the physical evidence surrounding the scene, plus patient, painstaking interviews with neighbors above and below stairs had resulted in time for both. 1994, Dana Stabenow, A Cold-Blooded Business, →ISBN, page 64:
(countable) A duration of time. ▸ An experience.
We had a wonderful time at the party.
(countable) A duration of time. ▸ An era; (articulated, sometimes in the plural) the current era, the current state of affairs.
Roman times
the time of the dinosaurs
The time is out of ioynt: O curſed ſpight,
That euer I was borne to ſet it right. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 259, column 1:
That’s the way things were in those times.
Dr. Manuel: You're wasting your time. The age of humanity is over. Our extinction is inevitable.[...]
Shepard: I don't have time for this.
Dr. Manuel: Time? Our time is over. 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (science fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Eden Prime:
(uncountable, with possessive) A duration of time. ▸ A person's youth or young adulthood, as opposed to the present day.
In my time, we respected our elders.
(countable, figuratively, singular, uncountable) A duration of time. ▸ Time out; temporary, limited suspension of play.
(uncountable) An instant of time. ▸ The duration of time of a given day that has passed; the moment, as indicated by a clock or similar device.
What time is it, do you guess? Ten o’clock?
Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found. 2013 July 19, Ian Sample, “Irregular bedtimes may affect children’s brains”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 34:
Excuse me, have you got the time?
A computer keeps time using a clock battery.
They will be asleep by this time, don'tcha think?
(countable) An instant of time. ▸ A particular moment or hour; the appropriate moment or hour for something (especially with prepositional phrase or imperfect subjunctive).
The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again; for, even after she had conquered her love for the Celebrity, the mortification of having been jilted by him remained. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
it’s time for (you to go to) bed; it’s time to sleep; we must wait for the right time; it's time we were going
It is time the international community faced the reality: we have an unmanageable, unfair, distortionary global tax regime. 2013 June 7, Joseph Stiglitz, “Globalisation is about taxes too”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 19:
(countable) An instant of time. ▸ A numerical indication of a particular moment.
At what times do the trains arrive?
These times were erroneously converted between zones
(countable) An instant of time. ▸ An instance or occurrence.
Okay, but this is the last time. No more after that!
Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 15:
one more time
When was the last time we went out? I don’t remember.
See you another time.
That’s three times he’s made the same mistake.
(UK, countable, in public houses, uncountable) An instant of time. ▸ Closing time.
Last call: it's almost time.
(countable, uncountable) An instant of time. ▸ The hour of childbirth.
[…]came well to Exeter; where ſhe intended to ſtay, till ſhe was deliver’d; for ſhe was within little more than one Month of her time;[…] 1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, book VIII, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], volume II, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater, page 370:
(countable, uncountable, with possessives) An instant of time. ▸ The end of someone’s life, conceived by the speaker as having been predestined.
It was his time.
(countable) The measurement under some system of region of day or moment.
Let's synchronize our watches so we're not on different time.
(countable) A ratio of comparison (see also usage notes and prepositional sense at 'times').
A mature silkworm is an impressive 2¾ inches (70 mm) long and eats 50,000 times its mature body weight over the course of its development. 2026, Elise Young, “Yagaa: Reviving Sericulture in Southern Mexico”, in Spin Off, volume L, number 1, page 16:
That is four times as heavy as this.
Canton is the regional primate city of Kuangtung. Its population of three million is ten times that of the second largest city, Shant'ou. 1980, James Chan, “Modern Manufacturing Industries in Kuangtung”, in C. K. Leung, Norton Ginsburg, editors, China: Urbanization and National Development, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 220:
Your car runs three times faster than mine.
(uncountable) The measured duration of sounds.
dance time; march time
(uncountable) The measured duration of sounds. ▸ Tempo; a measured rate of movement.
The musician keeps good time.
some few lines set unto a solemn time 1619–1620, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The False One. A Tragedy.”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii:
(uncountable) The measured duration of sounds. ▸ Rhythmical division, meter.
common or triple time; time signature
(qualifier:jazz, uncountable) The measured duration of sounds. ▸ A straight rhythmic pattern, free from fills, breaks and other embellishments.
After the introduction, the drummer is to play time.
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) Synonym of tense
Though we have, in the notes under the thirteenth rule of the Grammar, explained in general the principles, on which the time of a verb in the infinitive mood may be ascertained, and its form determined;[…] 1823, Lindley Murray, Key to the Exercises Adapted to Murray’s English Grammar, Fortland, page 53f:
The participles of the future time active, and perfect passive, when joined with the verb esse, were sometimes used as indeclinable;[…] 1829, Benjamin A. Gould, Adam’s Latin Grammar, Boston, page 153:
the time of a verb
(Multicultural-London-English, abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, slang, uncountable) Clipping of a long time.
I used to pay for things but that was time ago. 2019 September 15, “Wiley Flow” (track 12), in Heavy Is The Head, performed by Stormzy:
INCHEZ:Man this is long! We've been in here for time! 2023 January 15, Layton Williams, 12:51 from the start, in Freddy Syborn, director, Bad Education(Prison) (4), episode 3 (TV), spoken by Inchez (Anthony J. Abraham):
Ats' mum is looking for him, says he ain't been back in time 2022 March 18, Ronan Bennett, Gerry Jackson, Tyrone Rashard, Sagirah Gammon, 00:38:33 from the start, in Brady Hood, director, Top Boy(Good Morals) (4), episode 1 (TV), spoken by girl called B:
abs oras (inevitable passing of events) · hy ժամանակ (measurement of a quantity of time) · os рӕстӕг (inevitable passing of events) · co volta (inevitable passing of events) · ar إِبَّان (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · sw saa (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · kum заман (inevitable passing of events) · ms masa (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · xh ixesha (inevitable passing of events) · alt чак (inevitable passing of events) · bn সময় (inevitable passing of events) · lbe чӏун (inevitable passing of events) · zh 時陣 /时阵 (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · ko 시대 (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · ko 회 (instance or occurrence) · fa دُوْران (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · ko 순간 (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · id waktu (inevitable passing of events) · ota سفر (instance or occurrence) · ms masa (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · nb tid (instance or occurrence) · ta வேளை (inevitable passing of events) · nb klokkeslett (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · ms waktu (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ar وَقْت (inevitable passing of events) · kmr dem (measurement of a quantity of time) · ro timpuri (measurement of a quantity of time) · hi काल (measurement of a quantity of time) · mak wattu (inevitable passing of events) · fi aika (measurement of a quantity of time) · ar وَقْت (quantity of availability in time) · pdt Rekjs (instance or occurrence) · de mal (ratio of comparison) · st nako (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · hi वार्षिक (interval of one year — see also year) · so kol (instance or occurrence) · yue 時間 /时间 (inevitable passing of events) · ko 시각 (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · es hora (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · ab аамҭа (inevitable passing of events) · crh vaqıt (inevitable passing of events) · fo tíð (inevitable passing of events) · eo fojo (instance or occurrence) · it pena (slang: serving of a prison sentence) · ppl cahuit (quantity of availability in time) · dlm tianp (inevitable passing of events) · ca cop (instance or occurrence) · non sinn (instance or occurrence) · az zaman (inevitable passing of events) · is skipti (instance or occurrence) · hi युग (measurement of a quantity of time) · tr kez (instance or occurrence) · sw wakati (quantity of availability in time) · pt tempo (a personal experience — see also experience, moment) · da klokken (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · vec tènp (quantity of availability in time) · hu óra (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · it tempo (a personal experience — see also experience, moment) · kmr wext (quantity of availability in time) · ta தடவை (instance or occurrence) · alt ӧй (inevitable passing of events) · pap tempu (inevitable passing of events) · ee ɣeyiɣi (quantity of availability in time) · shy amedwal (inevitable passing of events) · ta மணி (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · txb lyakur (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · az vaxt (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ar وَقْت (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · sw muda (quantity of availability in time) · tab чӏив (inevitable passing of events) · fr époque (a personal experience — see also experience, moment) · ka ხანი (inevitable passing of events) · ast hora (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · bug wattu (inevitable passing of events) · tr saat (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · qu pacha (inevitable passing of events) · pt vez (instance or occurrence) · non tíð (inevitable passing of events) · fro tans (inevitable passing of events) · ms kala (quantity of availability in time) · cop ⲥⲏⲟⲩ (inevitable passing of events) · kmr wext (inevitable passing of events) · inh ха (inevitable passing of events) · zh 度 (instance or occurrence) · atv шак (inevitable passing of events) · ms زمان (inevitable passing of events) · ms masa (inevitable passing of events) · ko 때 (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · fr fois (ratio of comparison) · mi wā (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · gl tempo (inevitable passing of events) · hy ժամ (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ka საათი (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · csb czas (inevitable passing of events) · mk време (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · nn gong (instance or occurrence) · ig elekere (inevitable passing of events) · he פִּי (ratio of comparison) · ro timpi (measurement of a quantity of time) · ady гъо (inevitable passing of events) · ur وَقْت (inevitable passing of events) · nl tijd (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · de Zeitalter (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · sv dags (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · sh vréme (inevitable passing of events) · es data (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · hu ideje (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ba тапҡыр (instance or occurrence) · ln mbala (instance or occurrence) · zza wext (diq) (inevitable passing of events) · tg вақт (inevitable passing of events) · mk саат (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · nb tid (inevitable passing of events) · ko 시간 (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · zza zeman (diq) (measurement of a quantity of time) · ms وقتو (inevitable passing of events) · ur کال (inevitable passing of events) · egl tänp (inevitable passing of events) · ro dată (instance or occurrence) · nb tid (quantity of availability in time) · hi युग (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · om wayitii (inevitable passing of events) · ja ひととき (a personal experience — see also experience, moment) · zh 時間 /时间 (measurement of a quantity of time) · udm дыр (inevitable passing of events) · la ēventus (instance or occurrence) · ta காலம் (major division of the year: month, season, etc. — see also month, season, semester) · ckb جار (instance or occurrence) · ny nthawi (inevitable passing of events) · km ពេល (inevitable passing of events) · hi बार (instance or occurrence) · kn ವೇಳೆ (inevitable passing of events) · hi समय (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · gl vez (instance or occurrence) · mfe ler (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · io tempo (inevitable passing of events) · nv ookił (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · rm peida (quantity of availability in time) · rm temps (inevitable passing of events) · pt época (youth or young adulthood — see also adolescence, epoch) · chr ᎠᎵᏱᎵᏒ (inevitable passing of events) · fa زَمان (quantity of availability in time) · cs časy (youth or young adulthood — see also adolescence, epoch) · xmf ჟამი (inevitable passing of events) · nv naʼalkid (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · zh сахат (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · lad tiempo (quantity of availability in time) · fi kerta (instance or occurrence) · ur سَمَے (inevitable passing of events) · as পৰ (inevitable passing of events) · sh put (instance or occurrence) · ady лъэхъан (inevitable passing of events) · ms کالا (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · zh 時間 /时间 (quantity of availability in time) · fa تایْم (inevitable passing of events) · te సారి (instance or occurrence) · gag vakıt (inevitable passing of events) · alt саман (inevitable passing of events) · is tími (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · fa دَفْعِه (instance or occurrence) · es tiempo (measurement of a quantity of time) · ca dia (interval of one day — see also day) · ckb وەخت (inevitable passing of events) · ckb کات (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · ro vreme (inevitable passing of events) · grc καιρός (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ms kala (inevitable passing of events) · et vangistus (slang: serving of a prison sentence) · ca vegades (ratio of comparison) · it tempo (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · es tiempo (quantity of availability in time) · xal цаг (inevitable passing of events) · he זְמָן (inevitable passing of events) · arc ܙܒܢܐ (inevitable passing of events) · be раз (instance or occurrence) · hi अनुभव (a personal experience — see also experience, moment) · fi aika (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ky убакты (inevitable passing of events) · cy pryd (inevitable passing of events) · pa ਵਕਤ (inevitable passing of events) · bh हाली (instance or occurrence) · bn বেলা (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · fro feiz (instance or occurrence) · ka -ჯერ (ratio of comparison) · frm temps (inevitable passing of events) · hi क्षण (measurement of a quantity of time) · fi aika (inevitable passing of events) · pt hora (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · cu ⱍⰰⱄⱏ (inevitable passing of events) · ja 時 (a personal experience — see also experience, moment) · ar مرة (instance or occurrence) · ee gaƒoƒo (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · ba рәт (instance or occurrence) · pl raz (instance or occurrence) · na edae (inevitable passing of events) · nds Tyt (inevitable passing of events) · ar وقت (inevitable passing of events) · ko 시간 (measurement of a quantity of time) · hu idő (youth or young adulthood — see also adolescence, epoch) · za seizgan (inevitable passing of events) · ru час (inevitable passing of events) · frr tid (inevitable passing of events) · bg път (instance or occurrence) · sl krat (instance or occurrence) · bo དུས་ཚོད (inevitable passing of events) · ro dată (ratio of comparison) · tsd τζαιρέ (inevitable passing of events) · sjd а̄ййк (inevitable passing of events) · arc זבנא (inevitable passing of events) · bg път (ratio of comparison) · sa वेला (inevitable passing of events) · fr ère (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · sk čas (inevitable passing of events) · ha lokaci (inevitable passing of events) · sga úar (instance or occurrence) · pt horas (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · bg времена (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · se geardi (instance or occurrence) · cpg ταρός (inevitable passing of events) · cs časy (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · zza dem (diq) (inevitable passing of events) · egl tänp (quantity of availability in time) · ro vreme (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · bg време (quantity of availability in time) · ms ماس (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ba ваҡыт (measurement of a quantity of time) · ja 時期 (youth or young adulthood — see also adolescence, epoch) · ko 경험 (a personal experience — see also experience, moment) · nv naʼalkid (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · mnc ᡝᡵᡳᠨ (inevitable passing of events) · ga tráth (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · so mar (instance or occurrence) · la tempus (major division of the year: month, season, etc. — see also month, season, semester) · hi प्रहर (inevitable passing of events) · zza dor (diq) (inevitable passing of events) · mt ħin (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · te జీవితచరిత్ర (person's experiences or biography) · pih tiem (inevitable passing of events) · hi ऋतु (major division of the year: month, season, etc. — see also month, season, semester) · ca era (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · mi tāima (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · da afsoningstid (slang: serving of a prison sentence) · av гӏуж (inevitable passing of events) · chr ᎠᏟᎢᎵᏒ (inevitable passing of events) · la hōra (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · sv tid (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · or ସମୟ (inevitable passing of events) · kaw wayah (inevitable passing of events) · am ዘመን (inevitable passing of events) · yi צײַט (inevitable passing of events) · ca ocasió (instance or occurrence) · rsk час (inevitable passing of events) · af tyd (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · ca eternitat (time as an infinite whole: eternity, timelessness — see also eternity) · kr lóktù (inevitable passing of events) · fr temps (inevitable passing of events) · bn সময় (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · pox taid (inevitable passing of events) · et hetk (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · el φορά (instance or occurrence) · sat ᱚᱠᱛᱚ (inevitable passing of events) · ms waktu (inevitable passing of events) · kw termyn (inevitable passing of events) · ms کالا (quantity of availability in time) · zza çağ (diq) (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · pt vez (ratio of comparison) · la aetās (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · sq kohë (inevitable passing of events) · uk час (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · cy amser (inevitable passing of events) · az səfər (instance or occurrence) · sw mara (instance or occurrence) · tpi taim (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · te శకము (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · ru час (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · kca-nor пора (inevitable passing of events) · tyv үе (inevitable passing of events) · mn ᠴᠠᠭ (inevitable passing of events) · ru час (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · pt tempo (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · ca estació (major division of the year: month, season, etc. — see also month, season, semester) · gl hora (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · cs čas (a personal experience — see also experience, moment) · ko 때 (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · nah cahuitl (quantity of availability in time) · ko 시간 (inevitable passing of events) · ga uair (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · ln ekeke (inevitable passing of events) · ta ஆண்டு (interval of one year — see also year) · niv ыр (inevitable passing of events) · lus hun (quantity of availability in time) · mh tōre (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · ug زامان (measurement of a quantity of time) · kl piffissaq (inevitable passing of events) · zh 時候 /时候 (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · eu denbora (inevitable passing of events) · da tid (inevitable passing of events) · da gang (instance or occurrence) · pl czas (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · yrk-tun мальӈгана (inevitable passing of events) · rm taimp (inevitable passing of events) · nv naʼalkid (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · ms masa (quantity of availability in time) · de Zeit (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · bn সময় (measurement of a quantity of time) · bn কাল (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · ang sīþ (instance or occurrence) · cop ⲭⲣⲟⲛⲟⲥ (inevitable passing of events) · ppl kawit (quantity of availability in time) · sk čas (measurement of a quantity of time) · it tempo (quantity of availability in time) · fy tiid (quantity of availability in time) · az çağ (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · la tempus (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · eo tempo (inevitable passing of events) · ga tráth (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · arc זמנא (inevitable passing of events) · fi aika (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · cs krát (instance or occurrence) · zu inkathi (inevitable passing of events) · bua саг (inevitable passing of events) · az çağ (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · fa زَمان (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · olo aigu (inevitable passing of events) · ca hora (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · kk заман (measurement of a quantity of time) · zlw-slv czas (inevitable passing of events) · zh 時間 /时间 (inevitable passing of events) · es hora (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · sw umri (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · ar زَمَان (inevitable passing of events) · ms waktu (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · hu korszak (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · kmr dewr (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · ru вре́мя (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · mk време (measurement of a quantity of time) · br eur (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · stq Tied (inevitable passing of events) · vi thời gian (inevitable passing of events) · mh awa (measurement of a quantity of time) · ja 回 (instance or occurrence) · ja 次 (instance or occurrence) · te అనుభవము (a personal experience — see also experience, moment) · bn ওয়াক্ত (inevitable passing of events) · ast tiempu (inevitable passing of events) · pl godzina (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · dv ވަގުތު (inevitable passing of events) · yue 時刻 /时刻 (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · eo tempo (quantity of availability in time) · fr moment (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ckb فەلەک (inevitable passing of events) · got 𐌼𐌴𐌻 (inevitable passing of events) · ar وقت (inevitable passing of events) · ee ɣeyiɣi (inevitable passing of events) · ps وخت (inevitable passing of events) · pt tempo (measurement of a quantity of time) · hu idő (quantity of availability in time) · mnb wakutuu (inevitable passing of events) · de Zeit (youth or young adulthood — see also adolescence, epoch) · yai вахт (inevitable passing of events) · mrw wakto (inevitable passing of events) · hy ժամ (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · lt laikas (inevitable passing of events) · oc tèms (inevitable passing of events) · uk термін (slang: serving of a prison sentence) · gd uair (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · cjs тем (inevitable passing of events) · ml സമയം (inevitable passing of events) · fi aikakausi (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · za sizgenh (inevitable passing of events) · tr sefer (instance or occurrence) · sl čàs (inevitable passing of events) · zh 遍 (instance or occurrence) · zh 次 (instance or occurrence) · ce хан (inevitable passing of events) · maz mezhe (inevitable passing of events) · abq заман (inevitable passing of events) · he שָׁעָה (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · ms کالا (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · ta நேரம் (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ro timp (quantity of availability in time) · de Zit (inevitable passing of events) · zu isikhathi (inevitable passing of events) · ka დრო (instance or occurrence) · zh 時陣 /时阵 (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · hi समय (inevitable passing of events) · cs čas (quantity of availability in time) · fi aika (person's experiences or biography) · ta காலம் (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · hsb čas (inevitable passing of events) · nl keer (instance or occurrence) · tr kere (instance or occurrence) · hi कल्प (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · sv gång (ratio of comparison) · fy tiid (inevitable passing of events) · ka დრო (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · de Zeit (person's experiences or biography) · yue 時候 /时候 (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · rcf tan (inevitable passing of events) · kw prys (inevitable passing of events) · es evo (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · lld tëmp (inevitable passing of events) · awa समय (inevitable passing of events) · et aeg (quantity of availability in time) · zh 時候 /时候 (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · de Zeit (quantity of availability in time) · ro timp (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · om yeroo (inevitable passing of events) · tr zaman (inevitable passing of events) · nb tidspunkt (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · es tiempo (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · de Ziit (inevitable passing of events) · pi velā (inevitable passing of events) · ms وقتو (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · uz vaqt (inevitable passing of events) · kmr wext (measurement of a quantity of time) · az kərə (instance or occurrence) · nn tid (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · ru раз (ratio of comparison) · mk време (quantity of availability in time) · ro timp (measurement of a quantity of time) · ml തവണ (instance or occurrence) · se diibmu (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · pa ਟਾਈਮ (inevitable passing of events) · la diēs (interval of one day — see also day) · ce хан (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · gld эр (inevitable passing of events) · ca pena (slang: serving of a prison sentence) · ms masa (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · el ώρα (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · mt darba (inevitable passing of events) · zza fın (diq) (instance or occurrence) · af tyd (inevitable passing of events) · ko 번 (instance or occurrence) · ckb دەم (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · hak 擺 /摆 (instance or occurrence) · fj gauna (inevitable passing of events) · vep aig (inevitable passing of events) · bn কাল (major division of the year: month, season, etc. — see also month, season, semester) · ru раз (instance or occurrence) · ka დრო (inevitable passing of events) · uk годи́на (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · ar عَصْر (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · cs čas (inevitable passing of events) · ltg laiks (inevitable passing of events) · la hōra (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · ar أَوَان (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ro oară (ratio of comparison) · es veces (ratio of comparison) · la adulēscentia (youth or young adulthood — see also adolescence, epoch) · gd àm (inevitable passing of events) · zdj sa (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · es tiempo (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · br amzer (inevitable passing of events) · la annus (interval of one year — see also year) · lld aurela (inevitable passing of events) · ru срок (slang: serving of a prison sentence) · ttt вэхд (inevitable passing of events) · ur دفعہ (instance or occurrence) · gan 時間 /时间 (inevitable passing of events) · hi समाँ (inevitable passing of events) · el ποινή (slang: serving of a prison sentence) · ml പ്രാവശ്യം (instance or occurrence) · ga am (inevitable passing of events) · egy z:p*zp (instance or occurrence) · ba мәртәбә (ratio of comparison) · hi पहर (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · ca temps (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · ky убакыт (inevitable passing of events) · ms kala (numerical indication of a particular moment in time) · ca per (ratio of comparison) · mk време (inevitable passing of events) · ms ماس (inevitable passing of events) · pa ਵੇਲ਼ਾ (inevitable passing of events) · hrx Zeid (inevitable passing of events) · fr heure du jour (time of day, as indicated by a clock, etc — see also hour, time of day) · sh врије́ме (inevitable passing of events) · th กาล (inevitable passing of events) · sma aejkie (inevitable passing of events) · ckb کات (instance or occurrence) · ca època (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · rup chiro (inevitable passing of events) · sd وَقتُ (inevitable passing of events) · fa وَقْت (inevitable passing of events) · tk wagt (inevitable passing of events) · fo ferð (instance or occurrence) · sc tempus (inevitable passing of events) · pl pora (division of the day: particular moment or hour — see also hour, moment, schedule) · ka ჟამი (inevitable passing of events) · ia tempore (inevitable passing of events) · pl czasy (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · fi aika (quantity of availability in time) · gv traa (inevitable passing of events) · ka ჟამი (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · zza rey (diq) (instance or occurrence) · sh пут (instance or occurrence) · tl tion (measurement under some system of the time of day or moment in time — see also schedule) · ro eră (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · zza dor (diq) (extended period of time, defined or undefined: age, era, etc. — see also era, epoch) · hi गुणा (ratio of comparison)
From Middle English tyme, time, from Old English tīma (“time, period, space of time, season, lifetime, fixed time, favorable time, opportunity”), from Proto-West Germanic *tīmō, from Proto-Germanic *tīmô (“time”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂imō, from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂y- (“to divide”). Related to tide. Not related to Latin tempus.
Cognates
* Scots tym, tyme (“time”)
* Alemannic German Zimen, Zīmmän (“time, time of the year, opportune time, opportunity”)
* Danish time (“hour, lesson”)
* Elfdalian taime (“hour”)
* Faroese tími (“hour, lesson, time”)
* Icelandic tími (“time, season”)
* Norwegian time (“lesson, hour”)
* Swedish timma, timme (“hour”).
Meanings
(transitive) To measure or record the time, duration, or rate of something.
I used a stopwatch to time myself running around the block.
(transitive) To choose when something commences or its duration.
There is surely no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things. 1625, Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the chapter)”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
The human body uses light to correctly time myriad processes, ensuring that liver enzymes are made on schedule, hair cells divide at the right time, and blood pressure stays at a healthy level. 2025 December 9, Veronique Greenwood, “Your Bedroom Probably Isn't Dark Enough”, in TIME:
The bomb was timed to explode at 9:20 p.m.
The President timed his speech badly, coinciding with the Super Bowl.
(obsolete) To keep or beat time; to proceed or move in time.
With oar strokes timing to their song. 1861, John Greenleaf Whittier, At Port Royal:
(obsolete) To pass time; to delay.
To regulate as to time; to accompany, or agree with, in time of movement.
Who overlooked the oars, and timed the stroke. 1717, Joseph Addison, Metamorphoses:
He was a thing of blood, whose every motion / Was timed with dying cries. c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
clock (to measure time) · set (to choose the time for)
Translations (58)
fi ottaa aika (to measure time) · nl klokken (to measure time) · ca programar (to choose the time for) · fr chronométrer (to measure time) · vi canh giờ (to choose the time for) · it fissare (to choose the time for) · it programmare (to choose the time for) · yue 計時 /计时 (to measure time) · fi kellottaa (to measure time) · bg засека (to measure time) · de Zeit stoppen (to measure time) · is tímamæla (to measure time) · pt programar (to choose the time for) · es cronometrar (to measure time) · ru засекать время (to measure time) · fi ajoittaa (to choose the time for) · bg засичам (to measure time) · sv tajma (to choose the time for) · pt marcar (to choose the time for) · ru хронометрировать (to measure time) · de Zeit messen (to measure time) · vi bấm giờ (to measure time) · sv tidsinställa (to choose the time for) · sv ta tid på (to measure time) · es temporizar (to measure time) · fi ajastaa (to choose the time for) · ca cronometrar (to measure time) · es programar (to choose the time for) · nl chronometreren (to measure time) · ka დროის ათვლა (to measure time) · ka ჟამთაღრიცხვა (to measure time) · pt cronometrar (to measure time) · vi tính giờ (to choose the time for) · cs načasovat (to choose the time for) · de zeitlich planen (to choose the time for) · et aega võtma (to measure time) · cmn 計時 /计时 (to measure time) · el χρονομετρώ (to measure time) · de terminieren (to choose the time for) · de Zeit nehmen (to measure time) · is tímastilla (to choose the time for) · is tímasetja (to choose the time for) · cs časovat (to choose the time for) · da time (to choose the time for) · pl chronometrować (to measure time) · tl isaoras (to choose the time for) · ckb وەخت گرتن (to measure time) · no ta tid (to measure time) · de Zeitpunkt wählen (to choose the time for) · da tidsindstille (to choose the time for) · vi tính giờ (to measure time) · nl timen (to measure time) · da tage tid (to measure time) · et ajastama (to choose the time for) · de timen (to choose the time for) · tl magsaoras (to choose the time for) · is mæla tímann á (to measure time) · fa زمان گرفتن (to measure time)