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

See Examples For:

high time

It is high time that we base student grades only on work done in proctored environments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

"It is high time that health becomes an issue for formal negotiations, and we hope to see this at COP31" next year, he said.

From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025

“It is high time that this administration stops spreading misinformation about autism, and starts enacting policies that would actually benefit our community.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 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 your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she’s got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have — particularly after what happened at the Ministry.”

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling