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

So it’s high time for another round of hotel hot takes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

"It is high time for Europe to step up its game. To redouble its efforts to reduce our dependencies on China," Sejourne told EU lawmakers.

From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025

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

From Salon • Aug. 10, 2025

It was high time for him to go on home and leave an old lady some use of her ears.

From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt