was about time

USAGE SUMMARY

"was about time" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to express that something has taken a long time to happen or should have happened sooner. Example: "John finally finished his project! It was about time, he's been working on it for months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was about time.

The New York Times - Books

Well, it was about time".

The Guardian

It was about time travel.

The Guardian - Books

Well, it was about time, wasn't it?

The New York Times

For Bernard Gilkey, it was about time.

The New York Times - Sports

Many Iraqis said it was about time.

The New York Times

He said it was about time".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Others said it was about time.

The New York Times - Arts

whole system as it was about time anyway.

Stanford University

The bow is back and it was about time.

The New York Times

It was about time for him to move on again.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was about time" to express a sense of relief or satisfaction that something has finally occurred, especially after a long delay. For example, "The company finally released the updated software; it was about time!"

Common error

Avoid using "was about time" in situations where a neutral or supportive tone is needed. The phrase often carries a hint of impatience or mild criticism, so choose more neutral language if you want to convey pure support or happiness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was about time" functions as an idiomatic expression used to convey a sense of relief or satisfaction that something has finally occurred, particularly after a perceived delay. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

10%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was about time" is a common and correct phrase used to express relief or satisfaction that something has finally occurred after a perceived delay. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's proper usage. It's versatile, appearing frequently in News & Media, and is suitable for neutral to informal settings. When writing, be mindful of the slightly critical tone and consider whether a more neutral alternative might be appropriate. Overall, "was about time" is a useful idiom when you want to convey that something was overdue and is now finally happening.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's about time too

Adds emphasis to the original phrase, reinforcing the sentiment of lateness.

it's high time

Emphasizes the urgency or necessity of something happening immediately, similar to a stronger version of "was about time".

it's long overdue

Focuses on the lateness of an event, highlighting that it should have happened much earlier than it did.

it was high time

Implies a strong sense of necessity and urgency for something to have happened earlier.

it's time already

Directly points out that the expected or desired event has reached its appropriate moment.

it's finally here

Highlights the arrival of something anticipated, with an emphasis on relief or satisfaction.

it's come at last

Implies a sense of culmination and patience, suggesting a long wait has ended.

it should have happened sooner

Directly states that an event's occurrence was delayed longer than preferred.

the wait is over

Signifies the end of a period of waiting, celebrating the arrival of a desired outcome.

about damn time

An informal and emphatic way to express that something was severely overdue.

FAQs

How can I use "was about time" in a sentence?

Use "was about time" to indicate that something has finally happened, often after a considerable delay. For example, "After years of waiting, the city finally built a new hospital; it was about time."

What's a more formal alternative to "was about time"?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "it is long overdue" or "it is high time" which convey a similar meaning without the implied impatience.

Is "was about time" appropriate for professional communication?

While "was about time" is generally understood, it might be perceived as slightly informal or critical. Consider the context and audience. In more formal settings, alternatives like "it was opportune" or "it was fitting" might be more suitable.

What does "was about time" imply?

"Was about time" implies that something should have happened sooner and that its eventual occurrence is a relief or a satisfaction. It often carries a slight tone of impatience or mild criticism that the event was delayed.