It's high time

USAGE SUMMARY

"It's high time" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it when you want to express that something needs to be done quickly or that something should have been done earlier. For example, "It's high time we start preparing for the holidays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's high time Labour got its act together.

Independent

It's high time biomedicine cleaned up its act, says Simon Festing.

New Scientist

It's high time the United States' actions matched its words.

The New York Times

It's high time.

The New York Times

It's high time we accepted this one.

The New York Times - Books

It's high time to circle the wagons.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's high time for a Pancake revival.

The New Yorker

It's high time we saw some changes".

The Guardian

It's high time for a mini-hybrid.

The New York Times

It's high time for your sentiments to follow.

The Economist

It's high time we got on with it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "It's high time" to indicate that an action is urgent and should have been undertaken earlier to add emphasis to your point.

Common error

After "It's high time", use the past subjunctive (e.g., 'It's high time we went home') or the simple past. Avoid using the present tense in this construction.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "It's high time" is to serve as an idiomatic expression that introduces a clause expressing urgency or belatedness. Ludwig AI's examples illustrate its use to emphasize that an action is overdue.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "It's high time" is a versatile idiomatic expression used to convey urgency or that something is overdue. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and very commonly used, especially in news and media. Use it to emphasize that action is needed and avoid using the present tense in the following clause. Alternatives include "it's about time" and "it's long overdue". Be mindful of using the subjunctive mood, as it adds a layer of grammatical correctness to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It's about time

Emphasis on something being overdue.

It's long overdue

Highlights the extended delay.

The time is ripe

Suggests the conditions are now ideal, with a sense of belated opportunity.

It's time already

Expresses frustration at the lateness.

It's getting late

Implies the available window is closing.

It's imperative now

Focuses on the current necessity.

The moment is here

Highlights the arrival of the right opportunity.

We should have done this before

Expresses regret for a past inaction.

This should have happened sooner

Emphasizes that something should have occurred earlier.

It is past the time

Formal way to express that something is overdue.

FAQs

How do I use "It's high time" in a sentence?

Use "It's high time" to express that something should have been done earlier or that immediate action is necessary. For example, "It's high time we addressed this issue."

What can I say instead of "It's high time"?

You can use alternatives like "it's about time", "it's long overdue", or "the time is ripe" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "It's high time to do something" or "It's high time doing something"?

The correct form is "It's high time to do something". The infinitive form "to do" is the appropriate construction after "It's high time".

What's the difference between "It's high time" and "It's about time"?

Both phrases indicate that something should have happened sooner, but "It's high time" often conveys a stronger sense of urgency or frustration than "it's about time".