TIME + VERB

elapse, go by, pass
As time went by we saw less and less of each other. The changing seasons mark the passing of time
fly
How time flies!
drag
Time drags in this job
heal sth
Time heals all wounds

PREP

in ~
The world exists in time and space
over ~
Perceptions change over time
through ~
travel through time

PHRASES

the mists of time
The origins of this custom are lost in the mists of time

ADJ

good, perfect
My watch keeps good time
local
The attacks were launched at 9 p.m. local time
British Summer, Greenwich Mean, etc.

VERB + TIME

tell
Can your son tell the time yet?
have
Have you got the time?
make
What time do you make it?
look at
Look at the time! We'll be late
keep

PREP

ahead of/behind … ~
two hours behind Central European Time

PHRASES

this time tomorrow, etc.
This time tomorrow I'll be in Canada
time in/ of the morning/afternoon/evening, time of (the) night/year, time of day

ADJ

peak
There are extra buses at peak times
closing, opening
arrival, departure

VERB + TIME

fix, set
We need to fix a time for the next meeting

TIME + VERB

come
You'll feel differently about it when the time comes

PREP

ahead of ~
Check the programme ahead of time
behind ~
The plane took off an hour behind time
by the ~
By the time you get there the meeting will be over
in ~
We got home in time to see the end of the match
on ~
The trains are rarely on time

ADJ

considerable, long
little, short
reasonable
precious
We're wasting precious time
idle
free, leisure, spare
journey, travel, travelling
lead, waiting
There is a long lead time between order and delivery of the product

VERB + TIME

have
Have you got time for a chat? I had no time to think
give sb/sth
I can certainly do the job if you give me time
take (sb)
It takes time to make changes in the law. It took her a long time to read the report. Take your time (= take as much time as you like)
spend
She spends much of her time reading
kill, pass, while away
It helps to pass the time
fritter away, idle away
devote, put
She devotes all her spare time to gardening. He put all his time into the show
allow
They didn't allow much time for discussion
find, make
I can never find time to write letters. I can probably make the time to see them
wait
We had to wait some time before the bus arrived
gain, save
You would save time with a dishwasher
waste
lose, run out of
We have no time to lose (= we must hurry) . I didn't finish the test?I ran out of time
be pressed for/short of
be out of
play for
Not knowing what to do, she played for time by going to the bathroom

TIME + VERB

be up, run out
Sorry, your time is up

TIME + NOUN

period, scale, span
limit
lag

PREP

at a ~
He surfs the Internet for hours at a time
for a ~
I lived there for a time
in ~
You'll get used to the work in time
over/with ~
Her skills improved with time

PHRASES

all in good time (= sth will happen when the time is right)
Be patient, Emily! All in good time
all the time/the whole time
The letter was in my pocket all the time (= while I was looking for it) . She leaves the lights on all the time (= always/repeatedly)
a battle/race against time
Finishing the book was a race against time
if time permits
We will discuss this matter later, if time permits
in the fullness of time (= when the time is right, usually after a long period), in good/ plenty of time
Get to the airport in good time (= plenty of time before the plane leaves)
in next to no time/in no time at all, in ten minutes', three hours', etc. time
I'll be back in ten minutes' time
in your own (good) time (= taking as long as you want/need), a length of time
Have you lived abroad for any length of time?
most of the time, a period of time, some/a long time ago
Her parents died a long time ago
a waste of time
What a waste of time!

ADJ

good, great, happy
bad, difficult, hard, rough, sad, troubled, unhappy
Times are hard for the unemployed
ancient, early, former, old
in ancient times
modern, recent
medieval, prehistoric, etc.

VERB + TIME

have
We had a great time at the party

TIME + VERB

change
Times have changed since Grandma was young

PREP

at a/the~
He lived at the time of the French Revolution. At one time Mary was my best friend
before your ~
The Beatles were before my time
in your ~
Mr Curtis was the manager in my time (= when I was working there)
in ~s
in times of trouble

PHRASES

from/since time immemorial (= for a very long time), of all time
the greatest footballer of all time
a sign of the times, time was when
Time was when (= there was a time when) we never needed to lock our house at night

ADJ

that, this
I'm determined to pass this time
last
When was the last time you saw her?
another, next
Next time you're here let's have lunch together
one
each, every
Every time I hear that song I feel happy
appropriate, good, suitable
Is this an appropriate time to discuss my salary?
appointed, right
bad, wrong
This would be a bad time to tell her
first, second, etc.
umpteenth
countless
I've told you countless times

VERB + TIME

bide
We'll have to bide our time until the rain stops

TIME + VERB

come
Your time will come
be ripe
The time is ripe for revolution

PREP

at a/the ~
The lift can take four people at a time. At the time of writing, a ceasefire is under discussion. Hot water is available at all times. He can be rather moody at times
by the ~
She'll have gone by the time we get there
for the … ~
I told her not to do it for the umpteenth time
~ for
It's time for a break

PHRASES

at the present time, for the time being (= temporarily), a number of times, X times out of X
three times out of ten

ADJ

enjoyable, fun, good, grand, great, marvellous, pleasant, splendid, wonderful
It was a fun time for us girls
awful, dreadful, horrible, miserable, sad, terrible

VERB + TIME

have
Did you have a good time in Spain?

ADJ

fast
record
He completed the course in record time

VERB + TIME

clock up, record
She clocked up one of the fastest times of the year

ADJ

march, waltz
double, quick
four-four, three-four, etc.

VERB + TIME

beat, keep
The conductor beat time with a baton

TIME + NOUN

signature

PREP

in/out of ~ (to/with)
clapping in time to the music