well in time

USAGE SUMMARY

"well in time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to performing an action or arriving somewhere before a deadline or before something bad happens. For example, "We made it well in time for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Well, in time you will.

The New Yorker

Mussina may feel that way as well, in time.

The New York Times - Sports

Undaunted, she insists that all will be well in time for autumn 2013.

The Guardian

I arrived well in time for the crash course in audience participation.

The New Yorker

The president was back in Washington well in time for dinner, at 5 25 p.m.

The New York Times

Keefes, was "liberal" in allowing the use of his well in time of drought.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

American art -- fine art, that is -- takes too long to serve us well in times of crisis.

The New York Times - Arts

Why have these stocks done so well? A. They are a good defensive play, and often do well in times of turbulence.

The New York Times

Ballet does well in times of economic hardship, as the thunderous reception for the Royal Ballet on its tour of Cuba last year showed.

The Guardian

Others said they knew her well, in timed sound bites (she always used all of her allotted five minutes) delivered at town council meetings.

The New York Times

"She really steered the ship well in times with an inordinate amount of time between NIH directors," says Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "well in time" to emphasize that an action was not only completed before a deadline, but also with a comfortable margin. For example, "We submitted the proposal well in time for the conference."

Common error

Avoid using "well in time" when simply meeting a deadline without any extra time. "Just in time" would be a better fit in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well in time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action occurred. It indicates that the action was completed sufficiently early or with ample time to spare. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's often used to provide assurance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "well in time" is a versatile adverbial phrase that communicates the completion of a task or arrival at a destination with ample time to spare. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, including news, science and general writing. It is best used to convey a sense of preparedness and efficiency, and can be replaced with alternatives like "sufficiently early" or "ahead of schedule". Avoid using it when referring to actions completed at the last moment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficiently early

Focuses on the degree of earliness, emphasizing adequacy.

with ample time to spare

Highlights having extra time available, providing a margin.

ahead of schedule

Emphasizes being earlier than the anticipated timeline.

punctually

Stresses adherence to a precise time or deadline.

in advance

Indicates doing something before it is strictly required.

with plenty of lead time

Highlights the availability of considerable preparation time.

before the deadline

Directly refers to completing something prior to the final date.

expeditiously

Focuses on speed and efficiency in completing an action.

in good season

Implies timeliness and appropriateness for the given situation.

betimes

An archaic term for early, suggesting an old-fashioned style.

FAQs

How can I use "well in time" in a sentence?

You can use "well in time" to indicate that something was done or completed with ample time to spare before a deadline or event. For example, "The renovations were completed "well in time" for the grand opening".

What is a synonym for "well in time"?

Alternatives to "well in time" include "sufficiently early", "with ample time to spare", or "ahead of schedule".

Is it better to say "well in time" or "just in time"?

The choice depends on the context. Use "well in time" when you want to emphasize that something was completed comfortably before a deadline. Use "just in time" to indicate that something was completed at the last possible moment.

What does "well in time" imply about the completion of a task?

"Well in time" suggests that the task was not only completed before the deadline, but also that there was a comfortable amount of time remaining afterward. It conveys a sense of preparedness and efficiency.