Phrase guide

about time

adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adv

Meaning 1

Far past the desired time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable, often, sarcastic

Examples

  • Our food has finally arrived. ― (And) about time (too), if you ask me! We've been waiting about 45 minutes for it!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Close to the right time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • It's about time for the wedding to start, let's run to the church.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see about, time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

40 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: ja era hora — close to the right time
  • Catalan: ja es hora — close to the right time
  • Danish: tid — close to the right time
  • Dutch: ongeveer tijd — close to the right time
  • Dutch: haast zover — close to the right time
  • Finnish: melkein aika — close to the right time
  • French: enfin — close to the right time
  • French: il est grand temps que — close to the right time
  • Hungarian: mindjárt — close to the right time
  • Hungarian: hamarosan — close to the right time
  • Italian: sarebbe ora — close to the right time
  • Latin: est tempus illud de — close to the right time
  • Norwegian Bokmål: omtrent tiden — close to the right time
  • Polish: najwyższy czas — close to the right time
  • Polish: o czasie — close to the right time
  • Portuguese: quase na hora — close to the right time
  • Portuguese: está na hora — close to the right time
  • Russian: давно́ пора́ (davnó porá) — close to the right time
  • Spanish: es hora — close to the right time
  • Spanish: al fin — close to the right time
  • Swedish: dags — close to the right time
  • Danish: på tide — far past the desired time
  • Dutch: eindelijk — far past the desired time
  • Finnish: oli jo aikakin — far past the desired time
  • French: il était temps — far past the desired time
  • French: pas trop tôt — far past the desired time
  • Greek: καιρός ήταν (kairós ítan) — far past the desired time
  • Hungarian: épp ideje — far past the desired time
  • Hungarian: legfőbb ideje — far past the desired time
  • Irish: is mithid — far past the desired time
  • Italian: era ora — far past the desired time
  • Norwegian Bokmål: på tide — far past the desired time
  • Polish: najwyższy czas — far past the desired time
  • Portuguese: já era hora — far past the desired time
  • Portuguese: já era tempo — far past the desired time
  • Portuguese: já não era sem tempo — far past the desired time
  • Scottish Gaelic: tha an t-àm aig — far past the desired time
  • Spanish: ya era hora — far past the desired time
  • Swedish: på tiden — far past the desired time
  • Welsh: hen bryd — far past the desired time