time machine

American

noun

a theoretical apparatus that would convey one to the past or future.

time machine British

noun

(in science fiction) a machine in which people or objects can be transported into the past or the future

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

time machines

plural

Etymology

Origin of time machine

First recorded in 1890–95

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.

See Examples For:

time machine

"Our corals are a time machine to the past, they're not a time machine to the future," she said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Is a time machine just around the corner?

From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026

Gravy packets function as a sort of culinary time machine, contributing concentrated savory notes that would otherwise take much longer to build.

From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026

But his creation left an indelible mark on American culture—thanks to its iconic role as the time machine in “Back to the Future.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026

Freak goes, "You don't need a time machine if you know how to remember."

From "Freak The Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick

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