Time is of the essence

Cultural

Said when something must be done immediately: “The doctors need to operate right now; if they hope to save her, time is of the essence.”

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.

Time is of the essence, say top EU officials.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

"If a heel prick test had been done... things would have been addressed. Time is of the essence with this."

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

Time is of the essence when it comes to making these refund-enhancing tax-planning moves, and filing your 2025 tax return, according to Greene-Lewis.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 4, 2025

"But the moment a pathogen arrives, it needs to very quickly adapt. The ability to respond within seconds is critical to eliminating bacteria, an invading virus, or even cancer. Time is of the essence."

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2024

Time is of the essence of the problem, and anti-submarine craft which cannot be assembled in the submarine zone almost immediately may come too late.

From The Life and Letters of Walter H. Page, Volume II by Hendrick, Burton Jesse

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