make up time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make up time" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when referring to compensating for lost time or making up for a delay in a schedule. Example: "Due to the unexpected traffic, we need to make up time to reach our destination on schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

He was pushing to make up time.

The New York Times

He expected to make up time here.

The New Yorker

They packed and pressed on, trying to make up time.

The New Yorker

For a project that was desperate to make up time, the site was oddly quiescent.

The New Yorker

He skied aggressively in the second run, trying to make up time.

The New York Times - Sports

On a shorter course, luge athletes who do not start well have less chance to make up time.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

But then Mercedes called Hamilton in immediately after that, negating any chance of making up time.

Independent

The producers made up time by hustling awards winners off the stage, doing it musically with a riff from "Jaws" in at least one case.

The New York Times

The relay ran more than two hours late but reduced breaks made up time.

BBC

Guay made up time over the last few gates to edge Kjetil Jansrud of Norway by 0.12 seconds, with Johan Clarey of France in third.

Los Angeles Times

She got off to a slow start on her second run, but made up time near the bottom of the hill on softer snow.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In competitive contexts such as racing or sports, use the preposition "on" to specify the opponent being targeted, as in "make up time on the leader".

Common error

Do not confuse "make up time" (recovering lost time) with "make up a time", which means to invent or schedule an appointment. For example, "we need to make up time because of traffic" is distinct from "let's make up a time to meet next week".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make up time" functions as a verb phrase consisting of the phrasal verb "make up" and the noun "time". In this context, "up" acts as a particle that modifies the verb "make" to mean compensate or recover. Ludwig AI indicates this is a standard transitive structure, though the object "lost" is often implied rather than stated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Sports

30%

Wiki & General

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academic

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make up time" is an essential idiomatic expression in English used to describe the recovery of lost time or the effort to return to a schedule. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently encountered in News & Media and Sports reporting, where punctuality and competition are key themes. It is grammatically sound and carries a neutral tone, making it safe for both casual and professional contexts. While often interchangeable with "catch up", it is more precise when referring to specific durations or logistical delays. Writers should ensure they do not confuse it with scheduling an appointment, as in "making up a time". Overall, it is a highly reliable and versatile phrase for any writer needing to discuss efficiency and recovery.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recover lost time

More formal and often used in business or academic reporting

compensate for delays

Focuses on the reason for the time loss rather than just the action of recovery

catch up

A more idiomatic and informal phrasal verb common in casual conversation

regain time

A concise alternative often found in technical or scientific literature

offset the delay

Specific to project management where one action balances another

make up ground

Shifts the metaphor from time to distance, common in sports and competition

speed up the schedule

Action-oriented alternative that suggests increasing the pace of work

retrieve lost hours

Somewhat more descriptive and emphasizes the specific unit of time

accelerate progress

Focuses on moving forward faster rather than just making up for the past

reclaim time

Suggests taking back time that was taken away or wasted

FAQs

How do I use "make up time" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe recovering from a delay. For example: "The train driver sped up to "make up time" after the late start."

What is a more formal way to say "make up time"?

In professional or technical writing, you might prefer to use "recover lost time" or "compensate for delays".

Is "make up time" the same as "catch up"?

Yes, they are very similar. However, "catch up" is more common in casual speech, while "make up time" is frequently seen in journalism and sports reporting.

Can "make up time" be used in business writing?

Absolutely. It is a standard neutral phrase suitable for progress reports or emails regarding "project schedules".