on time
Idioms-
Punctually, according to schedule, as in I hope the plane will be on time . [Early 1800s]
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By paying in installments, on credit, as in They are buying their car on time . The time here refers to the designated period in which payments must be made. [Mid-1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
CPL shared the post on Instagram, where other patrons began volunteering their totals in the comments — a spontaneous little leaderboard for people whose competitive edge expresses itself through returning DVDs on time.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
The Navy has long struggled to stick to a 180-day deployment standard, which helps a carrier to reach maintenance yards on time and be made ready for its next assignment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Similar to negotiating rental costs, highlight your strengths when making the request: You pay your bill on time every month, or maybe your credit score recently increased, or you just got a big salary boost.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
The coroner gave a narrative conclusion, saying David probably would not have died had an ambulance arrived on time and if he had been defibrillated.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
We do our handshake before I walk outside, heart thumping a little cuz I wonder if Mama will be on time.
From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
