within minutes

USAGE SUMMARY

'within minutes' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about a short amount of time that something takes or is expected to take. For example, "The pizza will be ready within minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

within minutes.

The New York Times

All within minutes.

The New York Times - Arts

It arrived within minutes.

The New York Times

Within minutes, chaos reigned.

The Economist

He accepted within minutes.

The New York Times

Many sell out within minutes.

The New York Times

Within minutes, they began texting.

The New York Times

Within minutes, the sky opened.

The New York Times - Sports

"It goes global within minutes".

The New York Times

Within minutes he ran out.

The New York Times

Within minutes, they began fainting.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "within minutes" to create a sense of urgency or immediacy in your writing. This phrase effectively conveys that something happened or will happen very soon.

Common error

Avoid using "within minutes" when the actual timeframe is longer. This can mislead the reader and diminish the impact of your message. If something happens in half an hour, use "within half an hour" rather than inflating the immediacy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "within minutes" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the time frame in which an action occurs. It specifies that something happens in a short period of time. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Within minutes" is a prepositional phrase indicating that something happens in a very short period. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and commonly used to convey immediacy or urgency. The phrase is versatile, appearing frequently in news and media, and to a lesser extent, in scientific and business contexts. While similar phrases like "in a matter of minutes" or "almost immediately" exist, "within minutes" provides a clear and concise way to express that an event occurred quickly. When using this phrase, ensure the stated timeframe is accurate to avoid misleading the reader. This ensures clarity and enhances the impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a matter of minutes

Emphasizes the process occurring during those few minutes.

in just minutes

Highlights the brevity of the time frame.

shortly thereafter

Indicates an unspecified but brief period following an event.

almost immediately

Stresses the near instantaneous nature of the event.

very quickly

Focuses on the rapidity with which something occurs.

in rapid succession

Implies multiple events happening one after another quickly.

on short notice

Highlights a brief window of time for preparation or action.

at short intervals

Describes events spaced closely together in time.

before long

Suggests that something will happen soon.

expeditiously

Describes an action performed quickly and efficiently.

FAQs

How can I use "within minutes" in a sentence?

Use "within minutes" to indicate that something occurs in a very short time frame. For example, "The ambulance arrived "within minutes" after the call".

What phrases are similar to "within minutes"?

Alternatives include phrases like "in a matter of minutes", "almost immediately", or "very quickly", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "in minutes" the same as "within minutes"?

While similar, "within minutes" implies a slightly more defined and shorter period than "in minutes". "In minutes" can suggest a slightly longer, though still brief, timeframe.

Can I use "within minutes" to describe future events?

Yes, "within minutes" can be used to describe both past and future events. For example, "The presentation will start "within minutes"" indicates an imminent future event.