found time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "found time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of discovering or creating an opportunity to do something, often despite a busy schedule. Example: "I finally found time to read that book I've been meaning to get to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Train time is found time.

The New Yorker

It is found time.

The New York Times

I never found time to restart it.

The Economist

He still found time for side projects.

The New York Times - Arts

Maternity found time when it had to".

The New York Times - Books

But still found time to rock out.

The Guardian - Music

In Switzerland, he found time to write.

The Guardian - Books

She even found time to present a YouTube cooking show.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mr. Mooney also found time to visit Gorée Island.

The New York Times

Yet he always found time to champion decency in government.

The New York Times

Baker has occasionally found time to think about other things.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine it with adverbs such as "finally", "still", or "even" to add nuance to the meaning, highlighting persistence or surprise.

Common error

Avoid using "found time" when you simply mean you had the availability. "Found time" implies making an effort to create or discover that availability, not just possessing it. Use "had time" if no special effort was involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "found time" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It indicates the act of discovering or creating an opportunity to do something, as shown in examples like "He still found time for side projects."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb phrase "found time" is a common and correct expression used to convey the act of discovering or creating an opportunity amidst a busy schedule. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequency in news and media sources. While alternatives like "made time" or "carved out time" exist, "found time" specifically implies opportunism or making the best of limited availability. To use it effectively, remember it highlights effort, and should not be confused with the simple availability expressed by the verb phrase "had time".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made time

Focuses on the effort to create an opportunity, rather than discovering one.

created an opportunity

Emphasizes the active creation of an opportunity.

carved out time

Highlights the effort and difficulty in freeing up time from a busy schedule.

freed up time

Indicates making time available by removing other commitments.

managed to find time

Stresses the success in finding time despite challenges.

set aside time

Focuses on dedicating specific time for a task or activity.

squeezed in time

Implies fitting something into a very tight schedule.

took the time

Highlights the conscious decision to allocate time.

spared some time

Suggests giving up some available time for something else.

allocated time

Emphasizes the formal or structured assignment of time.

FAQs

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

You can use "found time" to describe discovering or creating an opportunity to do something, often amidst a busy schedule. For example, "I finally "found time" to read that book I've been meaning to get to".

What's a good alternative to "found time"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "made time", "carved out time", or "managed to find time".

Is it better to say "found time" or "had time"?

"Found time" implies making an effort to create or discover availability. If you simply had availability without special effort, use "had time" instead.

What does "found time" mean?

"Found time" means to discover or create an opportunity to do something, especially when you are busy. It suggests that the opportunity wasn't readily available but was made or discovered through effort.