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Synonyms

time-consuming

American  
[tahym-kuhn-soo-ming] / ˈtaɪm kənˌsu mɪŋ /

adjective

  1. (of an action) requiring or wasting much time.

time-consuming British  

adjective

  1. taking up or involving a great deal of 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

Etymology

Origin of time-consuming

First recorded in 1930–35

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.

They’re also working on a new line of pine tables with metal bases, which they hope will help them increase production since these are less time-consuming to make.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

The group also expressed concerns about attacks on energy facilities, warning costly and time-consuming repairs would affect overall supply availability.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

She says she found some swaps very time-consuming - especially in the morning and right after school when she needed to get things done.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

For most of U.S. history, trading into and out of the market required the simultaneous purchase or sale of hundreds of individual stocks, a time-consuming and expensive process.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

It’s time-consuming to get there, but the waterfowl are such easy pickings you can make up for lost hunting time.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

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.