on time
Idioms-
Punctually, according to schedule, as in I hope the plane will be on time . [Early 1800s]
-
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.
I like to save on time and kitchen clean-up because I don’t have a dishwasher, so store-bought is my preferred option.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
Of that spending, 98.5% of balances were repaid on time, it said.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Then he texted: “I’m flexible on time but not on location. I have a big event on Thursday, hopefully you can come to me again.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
It will be available to taxpayers who have paid their taxes and filed on time for the three previous years.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026
“Could you please be on time for your first day?”
From "Watch Us Rise" by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
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.
