time's over

USAGE SUMMARY

"time's over" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it when referring to an event or period of time having come to an end. For example: "The party's over. Time's up!"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Sadness that the time's over and there's also excitement about the next step.

BBC

When bath time's over, and if you're feeling particularly clever, you can use the 67C sands to boil an egg or cook a fish.

The Guardian - Travel

When you're home, your teddy bear might feel sad because your good time's over.

WikiHow

"'Your time's over.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Expect such treasures as "Just in Time," "The Party's Over," "Some Other Time," and "Lonely Town" to get a thorough workout.

The New Yorker

The score includes the songs "Just in Time," "The Party's Over," "I Met a Girl," "Long Before I Knew You" and "It's a Simple Little System".

The New York Times

By the time today's over, there were will about 200,000 more people on the planet than there were yesterday.

Huffington Post

**11 25 A.M. "Free time's almost over," Ms. Hudson says.

The New Yorker

By the time the song's over, he's enlisted and off to Iraq.

The New York Times

The venue was barely half-full by the time Bieber's over-running show drew to a close.

Independent

Among their best-known songs were "Just in Time" and "The Party's Over".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the apostrophe is present to distinguish the contraction "time is" from the plural noun "times".

Common error

Avoid omitting the apostrophe unless you are referring to a multiplication or a frequency (e.g. "three times over"). Without the apostrophe, the phrase becomes a plural noun phrase rather than a complete sentence indicating an end.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "time's over" functions as a declarative statement where "time" is the subject, "'s" is the contracted copular verb "is", and "over" acts as a predicative adjective. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often appears as an independent clause or the end of a subordinate clause to signal a definitive stop.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Social Media

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academic

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "time's over" is a grammatically correct and effective way to signal the end of a period. Based on data from Ludwig, it is most commonly found in journalistic and instructional writing, such as the BBC or WikiHow. It acts as a contraction for "time is over", and while it shares semantic ground with "time is up", it often carries a more general sense of conclusion rather than just a deadline alert. Writers should be careful to include the apostrophe to avoid confusion with the plural "times", and they can feel confident using it in all but the most rigid academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

time is up

Uses the adverb up to signify the end of a countdown or deadline

the clock has run out

Employs an idiomatic metaphor common in sports and timed tasks

time has expired

A more formal or technical way to describe the end of a set period

out of time

Focuses on the lack of remaining duration rather than the state of the period itself

at an end

A slightly more literary or formal prepositional phrase

finished

A simple past participle describing the state of completion

period is over

Specifies a particular segment of time that has concluded

moment has passed

Refers to a specific, often brief, opportunity that is no longer available

end of the line

A metaphorical idiom suggesting a final conclusion or no further progress

game over

Highly colloquial and often used figuratively to mean total failure or completion

FAQs

How do I use "time's over" in a sentence?

You can use it to announce the end of an activity, such as "I am sad that the "time's over" but excited for what comes next."

What is the difference between "time's over" and "time is up"?

While similar, "time is up" often refers to a deadline being reached, whereas "time's over" focuses on the general conclusion of a period or event.

Is "time's over" too informal for business writing?

It is generally acceptable in neutral business contexts, but for more formal reports, consider using "the time has expired" or "the period has concluded".

Can I say "times over" without the apostrophe?

Only if you mean "repeatedly" or "again", as in the phrase "many times over". To say time is finished, the apostrophe is required.