took its time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took its time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe something that happened slowly, or that didn't happen as quickly as expected. Example: The sun finally rose, but it took its time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Technology

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

THE NASDAQ may have passed its record high, although like London's FTSE 100 it took its time about doing so; 15 years, to be precise.

The Economist

It certainly took its time.

The New York Times

PAGE 11 EDITORIAL: The Intel Investigation It certainly took its time.

The New York Times

The second took its time, but it was faint, and I was almost convinced that it wasn't there.

Huffington Post

Despite the Americans' desire for early results, the Chilean military took its time, but after it finally acted, in 1973, it methodically began "inoculating" Chile against Communism.

The New Yorker

For Marvel's cinematic universe, you could really tell that Marvel Studios took its time in building it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"It does take its time; it does have its pressures," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Maybe slow it down, let it take its time.

Huffington Post

It's like cooking, it takes its time.

The Guardian - Books

It takes its time.

Wikipedia

It takes its time more.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took its time" to emphasize a deliberate pace, often suggesting thoroughness or careful consideration. For example, "The artist took its time perfecting the sculpture, ensuring every detail was flawless."

Common error

Avoid using "took its time" when the delay was due to unforeseen circumstances or incompetence, rather than a deliberate choice. It's better to describe the cause of the delay directly.

Linguistic Context

"Took its time" functions as a verb phrase indicating that an action or process occurred over a prolonged period. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. The examples show the phrase applied to various subjects, from companies making announcements to a winter storm arriving.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Arts

8%

Technology

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "took its time" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to describe an action or event that happened slowly or deliberately. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment based on numerous examples from diverse sources. Predominantly found in News & Media, the phrase serves to emphasize duration or a lack of urgency. When using this phrase, ensure the context implies intention rather than accidental delay. Consider alternatives like "proceeded deliberately" or "happened gradually" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was in no rush

Suggests a lack of urgency or haste.

was unhurried

Focuses on the absence of haste.

proceeded deliberately

Emphasizes the intentional and unhurried nature of the action.

did not hurry

Directly states the avoidance of rushing.

advanced slowly

Focuses on the gradual progress of something.

lingered

Suggests a prolonged or delayed action.

happened gradually

Highlights the incremental nature of an event.

tarried

Implies a deliberate delay in proceeding.

moved at a snail's pace

Implies an extremely slow speed.

was protracted

Highlights the extended duration of something.

FAQs

What does "took its time" mean?

The phrase "took its time" means that something happened slowly or deliberately, often implying a careful or unhurried approach.

What can I say instead of "took its time"?

You can use alternatives like "proceeded deliberately", "happened gradually", or "was in no rush" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "taken its time" instead of "took its time"?

While "took its time" is in the simple past tense, "taken its time" would be used with an auxiliary verb such as "has" or "had" to form the present perfect or past perfect tense, respectively. For example, "It has taken its time to arrive".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "took its time"?

Use "took its time" when you want to emphasize that something was done without haste or that there was a significant delay before something happened. For example, "The company "proceeded deliberately" in its expansion plans to ensure sustainable growth".