time

The measure of when events happen and how long they last, using seconds, minutes, hours, and days.

• What time is it?
• The clock shows the wrong time.
• Time passed slowly while we waited.

Common phrases: what time, time passes, measure time, local time

One occasion when something happens or someone does something.

• I have been there one time.
• She called three times yesterday.
• Next time, please bring your notebook.

How to use it: number + time or times (We watched the film two times.); the first or last time + clause (The first time I met her, she was very quiet.)

Similar words: occasion

Common phrases: one time, first time, next time, three times

One occasion when something happens or someone does something.

• Try one more time.
• I called her three times yesterday.
• Do you remember the time we missed the train?

Similar words: occasion

Common phrases: one more time, the first time, every time

A number showing how much larger or smaller one amount is than another.

• This bag costs two times as much.
• Their garden is four times the size of ours.
• The new machine is three times faster.

How to use it: number + times + comparative + than (This room is three times larger than mine.)

Common phrases: three times larger, five times more

To measure how long something takes.

• Can you time me?
• We timed the walk to school.
• She is timing each runner with a stopwatch.

Similar words: measure the duration of

Common phrases: time a race, time someone, time the journey

To choose the best moment for something to happen, or decide how long it should last.

• You timed your arrival well.
• They timed the announcement for Friday morning.
• She is timing her speech to finish before lunch.

How to use it: time something to do something (We timed our visit to avoid the crowds.)

Similar words: schedule

Common phrases: time something well, time an announcement, time something badly

A call in a pub announcing that drinks are no longer being served.

• The bartender called, “Time!”
• “Time, please!” shouted the landlord.
• “Time!” she called as she stopped serving drinks.

Common phrases: time please, time gentlemen please