Phrase guide

take one's time

verb · 2 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To go about something slowly and carefully or at one's own pace.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • Take your time — there's no need to rush.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To take more time to do something than is considered acceptable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • You sure took your time getting here!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: prendre el seu temps — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Chinese Mandarin: 不着急 — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Chinese Mandarin: 慢慢来 — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Dutch: de tijd nemen — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Estonian: mitte kiirustama — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Finnish: tehdä rauhassa — go about something slowly and carefully
  • French: prendre son temps — go about something slowly and carefully
  • German: langsam angehen — go about something slowly and carefully
  • German: sich Zeit lassen — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Hungarian: nem kell kapkodnia — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Hungarian: ráérünk — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Irish: glac am — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Irish: tóg am — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Italian: con comodo — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Italian: prendersela comoda — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Polish: nie śpieszyć się — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Scottish Gaelic: gabh ùine — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Spanish: tomarse su tiempo — go about something slowly and carefully
  • Estonian: mitte kiirustama — take more time to do something than is considered acceptable
  • French: prendre son temps — take more time to do something than is considered acceptable
  • Hungarian: nem kapkodja el — take more time to do something than is considered acceptable
  • Italian: prendersela comoda — take more time to do something than is considered acceptable
  • Polish: marudzić — take more time to do something than is considered acceptable
  • Scottish Gaelic: gabh ùine — take more time to do something than is considered acceptable
  • Spanish: tomarse su tiempo — take more time to do something than is considered acceptable