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high time

 - 3 dictionary results

high time

–noun
the appropriate time or past the appropriate time: It's high time he got out of bed.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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time   (tīm)   
n.  
    1. A nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.

    2. An interval separating two points on this continuum; a duration: a long time since the last war; passed the time reading.

    3. A number, as of years, days, or minutes, representing such an interval: ran the course in a time just under four minutes.

    4. A similar number representing a specific point on this continuum, reckoned in hours and minutes: checked her watch and recorded the time, 6:17 A.M.

    5. A system by which such intervals are measured or such numbers are reckoned: solar time.

    6. An interval, especially a span of years, marked by similar events, conditions, or phenomena; an era. Often used in the plural: hard times; a time of troubles.

    7. times The present with respect to prevailing conditions and trends: You must change with the times.

    8. Periods or a period designated for a given activity: harvest time; time for bed.

    9. Periods or a period necessary or available for a given activity: I have no time for golf.

    10. A period at one's disposal: Do you have time for a chat?

    11. One of several instances: knocked three times; addressed Congress for the last time before retirement.

    12. times Used to indicate the number of instances by which something is multiplied or divided: This tree is three times taller than that one. My library is many times smaller than hers.

    13. One's lifetime.

    14. One's period of greatest activity or engagement.

    15. A person's experience during a specific period or on a certain occasion: had a good time at the party.

    16. A period of military service.

    17. A period of apprenticeship.

    18. Informal A prison sentence.

    19. The customary period of work: hired for full time.

    20. The period spent working.

    21. The hourly pay rate: earned double time on Sundays.

    22. The meter of a musical pattern: three-quarter time.

    23. The rate of speed at which a piece of music is played; the tempo.

    1. An interval, especially a span of years, marked by similar events, conditions, or phenomena; an era. Often used in the plural: hard times; a time of troubles.

    2. times The present with respect to prevailing conditions and trends: You must change with the times.

    3. Periods or a period designated for a given activity: harvest time; time for bed.

    4. Periods or a period necessary or available for a given activity: I have no time for golf.

    5. A period at one's disposal: Do you have time for a chat?

    6. One of several instances: knocked three times; addressed Congress for the last time before retirement.

    7. times Used to indicate the number of instances by which something is multiplied or divided: This tree is three times taller than that one. My library is many times smaller than hers.

    8. One's lifetime.

    9. One's period of greatest activity or engagement.

    10. A person's experience during a specific period or on a certain occasion: had a good time at the party.

    11. A period of military service.

    12. A period of apprenticeship.

    13. Informal A prison sentence.

    14. The customary period of work: hired for full time.

    15. The period spent working.

    16. The hourly pay rate: earned double time on Sundays.

    17. The meter of a musical pattern: three-quarter time.

    18. The rate of speed at which a piece of music is played; the tempo.

  1. A suitable or opportune moment or season: a time for taking stock of one's life.

    1. Periods or a period designated for a given activity: harvest time; time for bed.

    2. Periods or a period necessary or available for a given activity: I have no time for golf.

    3. A period at one's disposal: Do you have time for a chat?

    4. One of several instances: knocked three times; addressed Congress for the last time before retirement.

    5. times Used to indicate the number of instances by which something is multiplied or divided: This tree is three times taller than that one. My library is many times smaller than hers.

    6. One's lifetime.

    7. One's period of greatest activity or engagement.

    8. A person's experience during a specific period or on a certain occasion: had a good time at the party.

    9. A period of military service.

    10. A period of apprenticeship.

    11. Informal A prison sentence.

    12. The customary period of work: hired for full time.

    13. The period spent working.

    14. The hourly pay rate: earned double time on Sundays.

    15. The meter of a musical pattern: three-quarter time.

    16. The rate of speed at which a piece of music is played; the tempo.

  2. An appointed or fated moment, especially of death or giving birth: He died before his time. Her time is near.

    1. One of several instances: knocked three times; addressed Congress for the last time before retirement.

    2. times Used to indicate the number of instances by which something is multiplied or divided: This tree is three times taller than that one. My library is many times smaller than hers.

    3. One's lifetime.

    4. One's period of greatest activity or engagement.

    5. A person's experience during a specific period or on a certain occasion: had a good time at the party.

    6. A period of military service.

    7. A period of apprenticeship.

    8. Informal A prison sentence.

    9. The customary period of work: hired for full time.

    10. The period spent working.

    11. The hourly pay rate: earned double time on Sundays.

    12. The meter of a musical pattern: three-quarter time.

    13. The rate of speed at which a piece of music is played; the tempo.

    1. One's lifetime.

    2. One's period of greatest activity or engagement.

    3. A person's experience during a specific period or on a certain occasion: had a good time at the party.

    4. A period of military service.

    5. A period of apprenticeship.

    6. Informal A prison sentence.

    7. The customary period of work: hired for full time.

    8. The period spent working.

    9. The hourly pay rate: earned double time on Sundays.

    10. The meter of a musical pattern: three-quarter time.

    11. The rate of speed at which a piece of music is played; the tempo.

    1. A period of military service.

    2. A period of apprenticeship.

    3. Informal A prison sentence.

    4. The customary period of work: hired for full time.

    5. The period spent working.

    6. The hourly pay rate: earned double time on Sundays.

    7. The meter of a musical pattern: three-quarter time.

    8. The rate of speed at which a piece of music is played; the tempo.

    1. The customary period of work: hired for full time.

    2. The period spent working.

    3. The hourly pay rate: earned double time on Sundays.

    4. The meter of a musical pattern: three-quarter time.

    5. The rate of speed at which a piece of music is played; the tempo.

  3. The period during which a radio or television program or commercial is broadcast: "There's television time to buy" (Brad Goldstein).

  4. The rate of speed of a measured activity: marching in double time.

  5. Music

    1. The meter of a musical pattern: three-quarter time.

    2. The rate of speed at which a piece of music is played; the tempo.

  6. Chiefly British The hour at which a pub closes.

  7. Sports A time-out.

adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or measuring time.

  2. Constructed so as to operate at a particular moment: a time release.

  3. Payable on a future date or dates.

  4. Of or relating to installment buying: time payments.

tr.v.   timed, tim·ing, times
  1. To set the time for (an event or occasion).

  2. To adjust to keep accurate time.

  3. To adjust so that a force is applied or an action occurs at the desired time: timed his swing so as to hit the ball squarely.

  4. To record the speed or duration of: time a runner.

  5. To set or maintain the tempo, speed, or duration of: time a manufacturing process.


[Middle English, from Old English tīma; see dā- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

high time

The appropriate time for something; also, past the appropriate time. For example, It's high time we did something about Martha's dog, or It's high time you children were in bed. The precise meaning of this term depends on the tone of voice and/or the context. For a synonym, see about time.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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