Phrase guide

high time

noun · 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

noun

Meaning 1

A point in time at which something is considered to be utterly due or even overdue to occur; well past time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A very enjoyable or exciting experience or period of time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the latest possible moment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • it is high time you went to work

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: time

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: hoog tijd — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • Finnish: korkea aika — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • French: il est grand temps — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • French: il est plus que temps — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • German: höchste Zeit — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • German: höchste Eisenbahn — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • Hungarian: ideje — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • Hungarian: legfőbb ideje — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • Irish: mithid — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • Polish: najwyższy czas — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • Polish: najwyższa pora — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • Welsh: hen bryd — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • Welsh: llawnbryd — point in time at which something is utterly due
  • German: herrliche Zeit — very enjoyable or exciting experience or period of time
  • German: großes Vergnügen — very enjoyable or exciting experience or period of time
  • German: Heidenspaß — very enjoyable or exciting experience or period of time
  • Polish: dobry czas — very enjoyable or exciting experience or period of time