time
time Lexical Profile
time Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
"The ancient ruins have slowly eroded with the passage of time."
A point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon, or a finite period available or allotted for a given activity.
"What time does the afternoon train depart from the station?"
An instance of something happening or being done; an occasion or occurrence.
"This is the third time we have reviewed the safety protocols this month."
A distinct historical period, era, or age, often characterized by prevailing social or cultural conditions.
"In medieval times, manuscripts were painstakingly copied by hand."
The rhythmic pattern, tempo, or meter of a piece of music.
"The drummer kept steady time throughout the entire jazz performance."
• verb
To plan, schedule, or arrange when something should happen or be done.
"They timed their arrival to coincide with the opening ceremony."
To measure the time taken by a process, activity, or person doing it.
"The coach used a stopwatch to time the sprinters during practice."
Word Nuance & Usage
Unlike its homophone 'thyme' (the culinary herb), 'time' is uncountable when referring to the general continuum of existence ('we need more time'), but countable when referring to specific occasions, instances, or eras ('three times a week').
• Rhymes for time
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'tīma', meaning a limited space of time or season, from Proto-Germanic '*tīmōn', ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root '*dā-' ('to divide' or 'to cut up').