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proper time

British

noun

time measured by a clock that has the same motion as the observer. Any clock in motion relative to the observer, or in a different gravitational field, will not, according to the theory of relativity, measure proper time

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Later, he adopted a habit of submitting the master tape of an episode so late there wasn’t proper time to review it.

From Salon • Jul. 25, 2025

"We're hopeful that we have the proper time... to begin phase two, and finish it off and get more hostages released," he told CNN on Sunday.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2025

“Despite not having proper time, resources and staffing when things got tough I just did my best to handle it,” Ms. Gutierrez-Reed said in court, reading from a statement, her wrists shackled.

From New York Times • Apr. 15, 2024

"We found that we can ascribe a 'proper time' to the wave, which is entirely analogous to the proper time in the general theory of relativity" Ornigotti says.

From Science Daily • Oct. 20, 2023

“I think you’ll be allowed proper time to rest.”

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023