high time

American  

noun

1. the appropriate time or past the appropriate time.

   It's high time he got out of bed.

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high time British  

adverb

1. the latest possible time; a time that is almost too late

   it's high time you mended this shelf

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noun

1. Also called: high old time.  an enjoyable and exciting time

high time Idioms  

1. The appropriate time for something; also, past the appropriate time. For example, It's high time we did something about Martha's dog, or It's high time you children were in bed. The precise meaning of this term depends on the tone of voice and/or the context. For a synonym, see about time.

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Example Sentences

"It's high time we came up with a strategy," Laurence Debrincat of the Paris regional transport authority said last month, pushing for the suburban-and-rural approach.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

“It is high time . . . that we take our ignorance more seriously,” Hayek memorably observed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

It’s the weekend before Halloween, high time for the freaks to descend.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

Isn’t it high time that we Americans recover our ideals, as well as our guts?

From Salon • Aug. 10, 2025

“It’s high time you learn to build a fire.”

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone