about time

Idioms  

1. Long past the right time; also, approximately the right time. Thus, It's about time you went to bed can mean either that you should have gone to bed much earlier (often stated with emphasis on the word time), or that now is the appropriate time for you to retire. [Early 1900s] For a synonym, see high time.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

about time

Baker analyzes how the rise of banking and insurance in 15th and 16th century Italy transformed beliefs about time, risk, and luck.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

“My dad wrote and said, ‘Is it about time you got a job?’

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

The way that happened has been enormously damaging — but, honestly, it was about time.

From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026

"I think, of course, a woman -- it's about time, isn't it? After 80 years" of the UN's existence, said Espinosa, a former foreign minister.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

“I think it is about time we began lessons.”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White