At the appointed time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "At the appointed time" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to a specific time that has been agreed upon or scheduled for an event or action. Example: "The meeting will commence at the appointed time." Alternative expressions include "At the designated time" and "At the scheduled time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At the appointed time and place, Ilan's scrawl in hand, I waited and waited for Jacob.

The New Yorker

At the appointed time, the retrorockets fired and Mars' gravity took hold of the spacecraft.

The Guardian

At the appointed time, the player turns itself on and starts belting out your favorite tune.

The New York Times - Tech

At the appointed time, the crew arrived, cleaned everything really well, collected payment and left me a receipt.

The New York Times - Tech

At the appointed time, the beaters wake the tiger by making alot of noise & drive it along past the guns.

The New Yorker

At the appointed time, I found curtains drawn over the wall-size window and the glass door, to which a note inscribed "Mr. Brody" was taped.

The New Yorker

At the appointed time, our teams entered each property and displayed our court order.

Science Magazine

At the appointed time, we arrived.

Huffington Post

At the appointed time, you and your children will reap a bountiful harvest.

Huffington Post

At the appointed time, I walked through the gym and into his office.

Huffington Post

At the appointed time I went down to the lobby to meet Don.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at the appointed time" to clearly indicate adherence to a pre-arranged schedule or agreement. It emphasizes reliability and organization.

Common error

Avoid using "at the appointed time" in extremely informal contexts; it can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler phrases like "when we planned" or "when it's time" in casual conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the appointed time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action takes place. As Ludwig shows, it indicates adherence to a pre-arranged schedule.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the appointed time" is a versatile adverbial phrase that emphasizes adherence to a schedule or agreement. As Ludwig examples show, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but it is also common in scientific and wiki-based writing. Its register ranges from neutral to formal, making it suitable for a wide range of writing styles. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, suggesting that writers can confidently incorporate it into their writing to convey punctuality and reliability. Related phrases like "at the scheduled moment" and "at the designated hour" offer similar meanings, providing flexibility in word choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

At the scheduled moment

Replaces 'time' with 'moment', emphasizing a precise point.

At the designated hour

Substitutes 'time' with 'hour', specifying a particular clock reading.

At the set hour

Replaces 'appointed' with 'set', conveying a similar meaning of a predetermined time.

On the dot

Emphasizes the punctuality and exactness of the timing.

When the moment is right

Indicates a more opportune or suitable time, rather than a strictly scheduled one.

At the arranged juncture

Replaces 'time' with 'juncture', suggesting a critical point in time.

As previously agreed

Focuses on the prior agreement, rather than the exact timing.

Upon the signal

Implies a specific cue that triggers the action, marking its timing.

When the clock strikes

Uses a more figurative expression to indicate the arrival of the agreed time.

In due course

Suggests the event will happen at the appropriate time as things progress.

FAQs

How can I use "At the appointed time" in a sentence?

"At the appointed time" is used to indicate that something will happen at a pre-arranged or scheduled moment. For example, "The meeting will begin "at the appointed time"."

What is a more informal way to say "At the appointed time"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "when the time comes", "when it's time", or "as scheduled" instead of ""at the appointed time"" for a less formal tone.

Is "At the appointed time" interchangeable with "At the scheduled time"?

While similar, ""at the appointed time"" implies a mutual agreement or arrangement, whereas "at the scheduled time" simply indicates a time that has been put on a schedule. They are often interchangeable, but the subtle nuance may matter in some contexts.

What's the difference between "At the appointed time" and "In due course"?

"At the appointed time" refers to a specific, pre-determined moment, while "in due course" suggests something will happen at an appropriate time, but without a strict schedule.