about time

USAGE SUMMARY

"about time" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is used to express that something is happening late or too slowly. For example: "It's about time you finished your homework!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Back to It's About Time.

Forbes

About time?

The New York Times

Isn't it about time?

The New York Times

And about time, too.

Forbes

About time, she says.

Independent

It was about time.

The New York Times - Books

It is about time.

The New York Times

How about time frame?

The New York Times

Ask us about time".

The New York Times

About time, too.

The Guardian - Business

But it's about time".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about time" to express a feeling of relief or satisfaction that something has finally happened, especially after a period of waiting or anticipation.

Common error

Avoid using "about time" with future tense verbs. It implies something should have already occurred. For instance, instead of "It's about time it will happen", say "It's about time it happened."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about time" primarily functions as an adverbial expression. It is typically used to express that something has finally happened, often implying that it should have occurred earlier. As demonstrated by Ludwig, this expression commonly conveys a sense of impatience or relief.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about time" is a common expression used to convey that something should have happened sooner, often with a sense of relief or impatience. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and primarily functions as an adverbial phrase. It is frequently found in news and media contexts, as shown by Ludwig's examples from The New York Times, The New Yorker, and other reputable sources. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it can carry a slightly informal tone. When using "about time", ensure the tense is correct and avoid future tense verbs, as it implies the action should have already occurred. Alternatives like "it's high time" or "at long last" can provide similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's high time

Emphasizes the urgency and appropriateness of something happening now.

none too soon

Highlights that something happened just before it was too late.

not a moment too soon

Similar to "none too soon", but with more emphasis.

at long last

Indicates that something has finally happened after a long wait.

finally

Simply indicates that something has ended a period of waiting.

in the end

Suggests an event that occurs after a series of delays and issues.

ultimately

Refers to the conclusive result of a process or a series of events.

eventually

Suggests that something will happen later at an unspecified time.

in due course

Suggests the event occurred when it was meant to happen.

after a while

Emphasizes duration from the happening to the original need.

FAQs

How can I use "about time" in a sentence?

You can use "about time" to express that something should have happened sooner. For example, "It's about time the rain stopped!" or "It's about time you cleaned your room!"

What does "about time" mean?

The phrase "about time" expresses that something has finally happened, especially after a long wait or when it was expected earlier. It often conveys a sense of impatience or relief.

What can I say instead of "about time"?

Alternatives to "about time" include "it's high time", "none too soon", or "at long last". These phrases similarly express that something was overdue.

Is "it's about time" or "it is about time" more correct?

Both "it's about time" and "it is about time" are grammatically correct. "It's about time" is simply a contraction of "it is about time" and is more commonly used in informal contexts.