free up time

USAGE SUMMARY

'free up time' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to creating or finding extra time for yourself or for other activities. For example, "I'm going to try to free up some time this weekend to go visit my family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We can free up time and resources battling cannabis and put it to far better use.

Independent

Ms. Kelly's promotion will free up time in the afternoon, potentially for Ms. Carlson.

The New York Times

She shut her first one, the Pilates venture, to free up time.

The New York Times

He said this would free up time for academics to produce more research.

The Guardian

Delegating and developing: Reallocate tasks to free up time, increase trust, and develop others' skills.

Harvard Business Review

The main reason that government does all this outsourcing is to free up time to do other things.

The Guardian

For this year's ceremony, on June 8, he hands the reins to Hugh Jackman, presumably to free up time to win a Tony for himself.

The New Yorker

"Taking away the motor vehicle tax will free up time to go after the bigger accounts," Ann Scacco, the tax collector in Bethel, said.

The New York Times

The government is going to have to supply free training to current teachers and schools will need to free up time to allow this to happen.

The Guardian

Armed with this knowledge, study participants dropped, delegated, outsourced, or postponed low-value tasks to free up time for more important work.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

If pharmacists were less involved in dispensing and preparation duties, this would "free-up" time for patient-focused care [ 45].

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To effectively "free up time", consider time-tracking tools to monitor where your time is actually spent and pinpoint areas for improvement.

Common error

Avoid scheduling too many new tasks immediately after "freeing up time". Leave some buffer for flexibility and unexpected events to prevent burnout.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "free up time" functions as a verb phrase. According to Ludwig, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English. It expresses the act of making time available or creating extra time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "free up time" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the action of creating or finding extra time. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears frequently in diverse contexts such as news, science, and business. Strategies to "free up time" include delegation, automation, and task elimination. Related phrases, like "make time available", offer semantically similar alternatives. Remember to avoid overloading freed time to maintain flexibility and prevent burnout.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make time available

Focuses on creating availability rather than the act of freeing.

liberate time

Implies a release or liberation of time, which is a slightly more emphatic way of expressing the idea.

find more time

Emphasizes the discovery aspect of creating time.

create capacity in schedule

More formal and refers to increasing capacity in a schedule.

carve out time

Suggests carefully and deliberately making time.

clear schedule

Focuses on removing items from a schedule to make time.

open up schedule

Similar to clearing a schedule, but suggests more space creation.

gain some time

Highlights the acquisition of extra time.

secure more time

Implies actively obtaining or reserving additional time.

unlock time

Suggests releasing time that was previously unavailable, often through efficiency or automation.

FAQs

How can I "free up time" in my daily routine?

You can "free up time" by delegating tasks, automating repetitive processes, or eliminating non-essential activities. Prioritizing tasks and using time management techniques are also helpful.

What's a professional way to say "free up time"?

In professional contexts, consider using phrases like "make time available" or "create capacity in schedule". These options sound more formal and business-oriented.

Which is correct, "free up time" or "free time up"?

"Free up time" is the correct and idiomatic phrasing. "Free time up" is not commonly used and may sound awkward.

What are some strategies to "free up time" at work?

To "free up time" at work, focus on improving efficiency by batching similar tasks, minimizing distractions, and utilizing project management tools. Also, delegate tasks where possible and hold efficient meetings.