time to go

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "time to go" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that it is the appropriate moment to leave or depart from a place or situation. Example: "After a long day at the conference, it was finally time to go home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Time to go home.

The New Yorker

"It's time to go.

The New York Times

Time to go jogging.

The New Yorker

Time to go.

Forbes

Its time to go.

Independent

Time to go to work.

The New York Times - Sports

"It is time to go".

The New York Times

It's time to go shopping.

The New York Times

Thanks, everyone, time to go.

The New Yorker

It's time to go on".

The New Yorker

It's nearly time to go.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In speech, you can often omit the subject "it is" for a more urgent or casual tone: ""Time to go"."

Common error

Do not use the preposition "for" before the verb in this construction. Writers sometimes mistakenly say "time for go" or "time for going" when they mean the idiomatic ""time to go"". The infinitive "to go" is the correct form to modify the noun "time" in this context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase ""time to go"" functions as a noun phrase modified by an infinitive, typically serving as the complement of the verb "to be". Ludwig AI confirms its status as a core idiomatic structure in English where "time" acts as the head noun and "to go" provides the necessary adjectival qualification.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Technical Manuals

3%

Legal Documents

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, ""time to go"" is a versatile and essential idiom in the English language. According to Ludwig, it is employed consistently across prestigious publications to indicate moments of departure, conclusion or transition. Its simple structure—a noun followed by an infinitive—makes it accessible, while its broad range of meanings—from leaving a room to ending a career—makes it indispensable. Whether you are writing a formal article for The New York Times or a casual note, ""time to go"" remains the standard choice for expressing that a moment of change has arrived.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

time to leave

Focuses more specifically on the act of exiting a physical space

moment to depart

Increases the level of formality and precision

opportunity to exit

Suggests that the departure is a specific chance or strategic move

window to move on

Uses a metaphor to describe a limited period for transition

chance to set off

Emphasizes the beginning of a journey or trip

point of departure

Often used as a noun phrase to describe the specific moment or start

time to vanish

Implies a sudden or perhaps secretive departure

hour to withdraw

Used in formal or military contexts to signal a retreat or privacy

occasion to proceed

Formal way to suggest it is time to move to the next stage

moment to clear out

Much more informal and often implies a hurried or forced exit

FAQs

How do I use ""time to go"" in a sentence?

You can use it as a complete thought or as part of a larger sentence. For example: "The party was winding down, so I decided it was ""time to go""."

What is a more formal way to say ""time to go""?

Depending on the context, you might use "time to depart" or "it is time to commence" for a more professional tone.

Is ""time to go"" correct in academic writing?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. As seen in examples from "Harvard University" and "Princeton University", it is used to signal transitions or shifts in subject matter.

Can I say ""time for going"" instead?

While "time for going" is occasionally used, it is much less common and often sounds awkward compared to the standard ""time to go"".