take much time

USAGE SUMMARY

"take much time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that requires a lot of time to do, complete, or understand. For example: Learning a second language can take much time and effort.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Seacrest didn't take much time to think.

Independent

And even the longer methods do not take much time.

The New York Times

Heywood says this was not going to take much time.

The Guardian

Other sites take much time, and some never respond.

The New York Times

These adjustments did not take much time — one or two tries, and she moved on.

The New Yorker

Rombaldoni said Ivanov played quickly and did not seem to take much time to think.

The New York Times

It doesn't take much time or effort, but it does require action on your part.

Independent

It won't take much time before you have to start the repayment process.

Stanford University

I think it won't take much time today to figure out that's not great advice.

Yale University

The development of new procedures and the design of new disposal facilities that allow retrieval will take much time again.

Earth-Science Reviews

The school's headmaster was brilliant, he says, but he didn't take much time off.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing project timelines or task durations, use "take much time" to clearly communicate that something requires a significant time commitment. This helps set realistic expectations and allocate resources effectively.

Common error

Avoid using phrases like "it won't take much time" when there are potential roadblocks or dependencies. Always factor in buffer time to account for unforeseen circumstances and maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take much time" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the duration or amount of time required for a particular task, process, or activity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

27%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take much time" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey that something requires a significant amount of time. Ludwig AI confirms this, with numerous examples from reliable sources across various domains, including news, science, and academia. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, alternatives like "require considerable time" may lend a more formal tone. When using "take much time", it's crucial to manage expectations and avoid overpromising on delivery times. Overall, "take much time" is a versatile and widely understood phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a significant amount of time

Highlights the notable quantity of time needed.

require substantial time

Emphasizes a large quantity of time needed.

require considerable time

Emphasizes the significant amount of time needed.

demand a lot of time

Highlights the need for substantial time allocation.

consume a great deal of time

Focuses on the time being used up by an activity.

necessitate extensive time

Indicates a need for a prolonged duration.

involve a lengthy process

Shifts focus to the process itself being long.

be a time-consuming task

Highlights that the task will occupy a lot of time.

entail significant time investment

Emphasizes the commitment of time as an investment.

call for extended periods

Stresses the need for long stretches of time.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "take much time" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "require considerable time", "demand a lot of time", or "necessitate extensive time".

Is it better to say "take a lot of time" or "take much time"?

Both "take a lot of time" and "take much time" are acceptable. "Take a lot of time" is generally more common in informal contexts, while "take much time" is suitable for both formal and informal writing.

What does it mean when something "doesn't take much time"?

When something "doesn't take much time", it means the task or activity can be completed quickly and efficiently, without requiring a significant time investment.

How to use "take much time" in a sentence?

You can use "take much time" in a sentence like this: "Learning a new programming language can "take much time" and dedication", or "The assessment may "take much time", relying on a door-to-door or even tree-to-tree survey".