Topic Thesaurus
Roget's Thesaurus

Time

Absolute Time

Time

Nouns
  • time, duration
  • period, term, stage, space, span, spell, season
  • the whole time, the whole period
  • space-time
  • course etc. [Indefinite duration.] Course
  • snap. intermediate time, while, interim, interval, pendency
  • intervention, intermission, intermittence, interregnum, interlude
  • respite. era, epoch
  • time of life, age, year, date
  • decade etc. (period) [Definite duration, or portion of time.] Period
  • moment, c. (instant) [Point of time] Instantaneity. glass of time, sands of time, march of time, Father Time, ravages of time
  • arrow of time
  • river of time, whirligig of time, noiseless foot of time
  • scythe.
Verbs
  • continue last endure, go on, remain, persist
  • intervene
  • elapse etc. [Indefinite duration.] Course
  • hold out. take time, take up time, fill time, occupy time. pass time, pass away time, spend time, while away time, consume time, talk against time
  • tide over
  • use time, employ time
  • seize an opportunity etc. Occasion
  • waste time etc. (be inactive) Inactivity.
Adjectives
Adverbs
  • while, whilst, during, pending
  • during the time, during the interval
  • in the course of, at that point, at that point in time
  • for the time being, day by day
  • in the time of, when
  • meantime, meanwhile
  • in the meantime, in the interim
  • ad interim
  • from day to day, from hour to hour etc.
  • hourly, always
  • for a time, for a season
  • till, until, up to, yet, as far as, by that time, so far, hereunto, heretofore, prior to this, up to this point. the whole time, all the time
  • all along
  • throughout etc. (completely) Completeness
  • for good etc. (diuturnity) [Long duration.] Diuturnity. hereupon, thereupon, whereupon
  • then
  • anno Domini, A.D.
  • ante Christum, A.C.
  • before Christ, B.C.
  • A.U.C.
  • A.R.
  • once upon a time, one fine morning, one fine day, one day, once.
Phrases
  • time flies
  • time runs out, time runs against, race against time, racing the clock, time marches on, time is of the essence
  • panting Time toileth after him in vain" [Johnson]
  • 'gainst the tooth of time and razure of 'gainst the tooth of time and razure of oblivion [Contr.]" [Measure for Measure]
  • rich with the spoils of time" [Gray]
  • the long hours come and go" [C.G. Rossetti]
  • the time is out of joint" [Hamlet]
  • Time rolls his ceaseless course" [Scott]
  • Time the foe of man's dominion" [Peacock]
  • time wasted is existence, used is life" [Young]

Neverness

Nouns
  • neverness
  • " absence of time, no time
  • dies non
  • Tib's eve
  • Greek Kalends, a blue moon.
Adverbs
  • never, ne'er [Contr.]
  • at no time, at no period
  • on the second Tuesday of the week, when Hell freezes over
  • on no occasion, never in all one's born days, nevermore, sine die
  • in no degree.

Period (Definite duration, or portion of time)

Nouns
  • period, age, era
  • second, minute, hour, day, week, month, quarter, year, decade, decenniumm lustrum, quinquennium, lifetime, generation
  • epoch, ghurry, lunation, moon. century, millennium
Adjectives

Contingent Duration

Adverbs
  • during pleasure, during good behavior

Course (Indefinite duration)

Nouns
  • corridors of time, sweep of time, vesta of time, course of time, progress of time, process of time, succession of time, lapse of time, flow of time, flux of time, stream of time, tract of time, current of time, tide of time, march of time, step of time, flight of time
  • duration etc. Time. [Indefinite time] aorist.
Verbs
  • elapse, lapse, flow, run, proceed, advance, pass
  • roll on, wear on, press on
  • flit, fly, slip, slide, glide
  • run its course. run out, expire
  • go by, pass by
  • be past etc. [Retrospective time.] The Past.
Adjectives
  • elapsing etc. v.
  • aoristic
  • progressive.
Adverbs
  • in due time, in due season
  • in in due course, in due process, in the fullness of time
  • in time.
Phrases
  • tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day" [Macbeth].

Diuturnity (Long duration)

Nouns
  • diuturnity
  • a long time, a length of time
  • an age, a century, an eternity
  • slowness etc. Slowness
  • perpetuity etc. [Endless duration.] Perpetuity
  • blue moon, coon's age [U.S.], dog's age. durableness, durability
  • persistence, endlessness, lastingness etc. adj.
  • continuance, standing
  • permanence etc. (stability) Stability
  • survival, survivance
  • longevity etc. (age) Age
  • distance of time. protraction of time, prolongation of time, extension of time
  • delay etc. (lateness) Lateness.
Verbs
  • last, endure, stand, remain, abide, continue, brave a thousand years. tarry etc. (be late) Lateness
  • drag on, drag its slow length along, drag a lengthening chain
  • protract, prolong
  • spin out, eke out, draw out, lengthen out
  • temporize
  • gain time, make time, talk against time. outlast, outlive
  • survive
  • live to fight again.
Adjectives
  • durable
  • lasting etc. v.
  • of long duration, of long-standing
  • permanent, endless, chronic, long-standing
  • intransient, intransitive
  • intransmutable, persistent
  • lifelong, livelong
  • longeval, long-lived, macrobiotic, diuturnal, evergreen, perennial
  • sempervirent, sempervirid
  • unrelenting, unintermitting, unremitting
  • perpetual etc. [Endless duration.] Perpetuity. lingering, protracted, prolonged, spun out etc. v.. long-pending, long-winded
  • slow etc. Slowness.
Adverbs
  • long
  • for a long time, for an age, for ages, for ever so long, for many a long day
  • long ago etc. (in a past time) [Retrospective time.] The Past
  • all the year round
  • the livelong day, as the day is long, morning noon and night
  • hour after hour, day after day, c.
  • for good
  • permanently etc. adj..

Transientness (Short duration)

Nouns
  • transience, transientness etc. adj.
  • evanescence, impermanence, fugacity [Chem], caducity, mortality, span
  • nine days' wonder, bubble, Mayfly
  • spurt
  • flash in the pan
  • temporary arrangement, interregnum. velocity etc. Velocity
  • suddenness etc. [Point of time] Instantaneity
  • changeableness etc. Changeableness. transient, transient boarder, transient guest [U.S.].
Verbs
  • be transient etc. adj.
  • flit, pass away, fly, gallop, vanish, fade, evaporate
  • pass away like a cloud, pass away like a summer cloud, pass away like a shadow, pass away like a dream.
Adjectives
  • transient, transitory, transitive
  • passing, evanescent, fleeting, cursory, short-lived, ephemeral
  • flying etc. v.
  • fugacious, fugitive
  • shifting, slippery
  • spasmodic
  • instantaneous, momentaneous. temporal, temporary
  • provisional, provisory
  • deciduous
  • perishable, mortal, precarious, unstable, insecure
  • impermanent. brief, quick, brisk, extemporaneous, summary
  • pressed for time etc. (haste) Haste
  • sudden, momentary etc. (instantaneous) [Point of time] Instantaneity.
Adverbs
  • temporarily etc. adj.
  • for the moment, for a time
  • awhile
  • in a short time
  • soon etc. (early) Earliness
  • briefly etc. adj.
  • at short notice
  • on the point of, on the eve of
  • in articulo
  • between cup and lip.
Phrases
  • one's days are numbered
  • the time is up
  • here today and gone tomorrow
  • a schoolboy's tale, the wonder of the hour! [Byron]

Perpetuity (Endless duration)

Nouns
  • perpetuity, eternity, everness, aye, sempiternity, immortality, athanasia
  • interminability, agelessness, everlastingness etc. adj.
  • perpetuation
  • continued existence, uninterrupted existence
  • perennity
  • permanence (durability) [Long duration.] Diuturnity.
Verbs
  • last forever, endure forever, go on forever
  • have no end. eternize, perpetuate.
Adjectives
  • perpetual, eternal
  • everduring, everlasting, ever-living, ever-flowing
  • continual, sempiternal
  • coeternal
  • endless, unending
  • ceaseless, incessant, uninterrupted, indesinent, unceasing
  • endless, unending, interminable, having no end
  • unfading, evergreen, amaranthine
  • neverending, never-dying, never-fading
  • deathless, immortal, undying, imperishable.
Adverbs
  • perpetually etc. adj.
  • always, ever, evermore, aye
  • for ever, for aye, till the end of the universe, forevermore, forever and a day, for ever and ever
  • in all ages, from age to age
  • without end
  • world without end, time without end
  • to the end of time, to the crack of doom, to the 'last syllable of recorded time'" [Macbeth]
  • till doomsday
  • constantly etc. (very frequently) Frequency.
Phrases
  • but thou shall flourish in immortal youth" [Addison]
  • Eternity! thou pleasing, dreadful thought" [Addison]
  • her immortal part with angels lives" [Romeo and Juliet]
  • [Goethe's motto]

Instantaneity (Point of time)

Nouns
  • instantaneity, instantaneousness, immediacy
  • suddenness, abruptness. moment, instant, second, minute
  • twinkling, trice, flash, breath, crack, jiffy, coup, burst, flash of lightning, stroke of time. epoch, time
  • time of day, time of night
  • hour, minute
  • very minute etc., very time, very hour
  • present time, right time, true time, exact correct time.
Verbs
  • be instantaneous etc. adj.
  • twinkle, flash.
Adjectives
  • instantaneous, momentary, sudden, immediate, instant, abrupt, discontinuous, precipitous, precipitant, precipitate
  • subitaneous, hasty
  • quick as thought, quick as lightning, quick as a flash
  • rapid as electricity. speedy, quick, fast, fleet, swift, lively, blitz
  • rapid (velocity) Velocity.
Adverbs
  • instantaneously etc. adj.
  • in no time, in less than no time
  • presto, subito, instanter, suddenly, at a stroke, like a shot
  • in a moment etc. n.. in the blink of an eye, in the twinkling of an eye, in a trice
  • in one's tracks
  • right away
  • at one jump, in the same breath
  • at once, all at once
  • plump, slap
  • at one fell swoop
  • " at the same instant etc. n.
  • immediately etc. (early) Earliness
  • extempore, on the moment, on the spot, on the spur of the moment
  • no sooner said than done
  • just then
  • slap-dash etc. (haste) Haste.
Phrases
  • touch and go
  • no sooner said than done.

Chronometry (Estimation, measurement, and record of time)

Nouns
  • chronometry, horometry, horology
  • date, epoch
  • style, era. almanac, calendar, ephemeris
  • register, registry
  • chronicle, annals, journal, diary. [Instruments for the measurement of time] chronogram
  • clock, wall clock, pendulum clock, grandfather's clock, cuckoo clock, alarm clock, clock radio
  • watch, wristwatch, pocket watch, stopwatch, Swiss watch
  • atomic clock, digital clock, analog clock, quartz watch, water clock
  • chronometer, chronoscope, chronograph
  • repeater
  • timekeeper, timepiece
  • dial, sundial, gnomon, horologe, pendulum, hourglass, clepsydra
  • ghurry. chronographer, chronologer, chronologist, timekeeper
  • annalist. calendar year, leap year, Julian calendar, Gregorian calendar, Chinese calendar, Jewish calendar, perpetual calendar, Farmer's almanac, fiscal year.
Verbs
  • fix the time, mark the time
  • date, register, chronicle
  • measure time, beat time, mark time
  • bear date
  • synchronize watches.
Adjectives
  • chronological, chronometrical, chronogrammatical
  • quattrocento, trecento.
Adverbs
  • o'clock.

Anachronism (False estimate of time)

Nouns
  • anachronism, metachronism, parachronism, prochronism
  • prolepsis, misdate
  • anticipation, antichronism. disregard of time, neglect of time, oblivion of time. intempestivity etc. Untimeliness.
Verbs
  • misdate, antedate, postdate, backdate, overdate
  • anticipate
  • take no note of time, lose track of time
  • anachronize.
Adjectives
  • misdated etc. v.
  • undated
  • overdue, past due
  • out of date.

Relative Time

Priority

Nouns
Verbs
  • precede, come before
  • forerun
  • go before etc. (lead) [Going before.] Precession
  • preexist
  • dawn
  • presage etc. Prediction
  • herald, usher in. be beforehand etc. (be early) Earliness
  • steal a march upon, anticipate, forestall
  • have the start, gain the start.
Adjectives
  • prior, previous
  • preceding, precedent
  • anterior, antecedent
  • pre-existing, pre-existent
  • former, foregoing
  • aforementioned, before-mentioned, abovementioned
  • aforesaid, said
  • introductory etc. (precursory) Precursor.
Adverbs
  • before, prior to
  • earlier
  • previously etc. adj.
  • afore, aforehand, beforehand, ere, theretofore, erewhile
  • ere then, ere now, before then, before now
  • erewhile, already, yet, beforehand
  • on the eve of.

Posteriority

Nouns
Verbs
  • follow after etc. [Going after.] Sequence, come after, go after
  • succeed, supervene
  • ensue, occur
  • step into the shoes of.
Adjectives
  • subsequent, posterior, following, after, later, succeeding, postliminious, postnate
  • postdiluvial, postdiluvian
  • puisne
  • posthumous
  • future etc. [Prospective time.] Futurity
  • afterdinner, postprandial.
Adverbs
  • subsequently, after, afterwards, since, later
  • at a subsequent, at a later period, at a later date
  • next, in the sequel, close upon, thereafter, thereupon, upon which, eftsoons
  • from that time, from that moment
  • after a while, after a time
  • in process of time.

The Present Time

Nouns
  • the present, the present time, the present day, the present moment, the present juncture, the present occasion
  • the times, the existing time, the time being
  • today, these days, nowadays, our times, modern times, the twentieth century
  • nonce, crisis, epoch, day, hour. age, time of life.
Adjectives
  • present, actual, instant, current, existing, extant, that is
  • present-day, up-to-date, up-to-the-moment.
Adverbs
  • at this time, at this moment etc. [Point of time] Instantaneity
  • at the present time etc. n.
  • now, at present
  • at hand. at this time of day, today, nowadays
  • already
  • even now, but now, just now
  • on the present occasion
  • for the time being, for the nonce
  • on the nail, on the spot
  • on the spur of the moment, until now
  • to this day, to the present day.
Phrases
  • the present hour alone is man's" [Johnson].

Different time (Time different from the present)

Nouns
  • different time, other time. [Indefinite time] aorist.
Adjectives
  • aoristic
  • indefinite.
Adverbs
  • at that time, at which time, at that moment, at that instant
  • then, on that occasion, upon
  • not now, some other time. when
  • whenever, whensoever
  • upon which, on which occasion
  • at another time, at a different time, at some other time, at any time
  • at various times
  • some one of these days, one of these days, one fine morning
  • eventually, some day, by and by, sooner or later
  • some time or other
  • once upon a time.

Synchronism

Nouns
  • synchronism
  • coexistence, coincidence
  • simultaneousness, simultaneity etc. adj.
  • concurrence, concomitance, unity of time, interim. [Having equal times] isochronism. contemporary, coetanian.
Verbs
  • coexist, concur, accompany, go hand in hand, keep pace with
  • synchronize.
Adjectives
  • synchronous, synchronal, synchronic, synchronical, synchronistical
  • simultaneous, coexisting, coincident, concomitant, concurrent
  • coeval, coevous
  • contemporary, contemporaneous
  • coetaneous
  • coeternal
  • isochronous.
Adverbs
  • at the same time
  • simultaneously etc. adj.
  • together, in concert, during the same time
  • in the same breath
  • in the interim
  • as one. at the very moment etc. [Point of time] Instantaneity
  • just as, as soon as
  • meanwhile etc. (while) Time.

Futurity (Prospective time)

Nouns
  • futurity, futurition
  • future, hereafter, time to come
  • approaching time, coming time, subsequent time, after time, approaching age, coming age, subsequent age, after age, approaching days, coming days, subsequent days, after days, approaching hours, coming hours, subsequent hours, after hours, approaching ages, coming ages, subsequent ages, after ages, approaching life, coming life, subsequent life, after life, approaching years, coming years, subsequent years, after years
  • morrow
  • millennium, doomsday, day of judgment, crack of doom, remote future. approach of time advent, time drawing on, womb of time
  • destiny etc. Destiny
  • eventuality. heritage, heirs posterity. prospect etc. (expectation) Expectation
  • foresight etc. Foresight.
Verbs
  • look forwards
  • anticipate etc. (expect) Expectation, (foresee) Foresight
  • forestall etc. (be early) Earliness. come on, draw on
  • draw near
  • approach, await, threaten
  • impend etc. (be destined) Destiny.
Adjectives
  • future, to come
  • coming etc. (impending) Destiny
  • next, near
  • close at hand
  • eventual, ulterior
  • in prospect etc. (expectation) Expectation.
Adverbs
  • prospectively, hereafter, in future
  • kal, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow
  • in course of time, in process of time, in the fullness of time
  • eventually, ultimately, sooner or later
  • in after time
  • one of these days
  • after a time, after a while. from this time
  • henceforth, henceforwards
  • thence
  • thenceforth, thenceforward
  • whereupon, upon which. soon etc. (early) Earliness
  • on the eve of, on the point of, on the brink of
  • about to
  • close upon.

The Past (Retrospective time)

Nouns
  • the past, past time
  • days of yore, times of yore, days of old, times of old, days past, times past, days gone by, times gone by
  • bygone days
  • old times, ancient times, former times
  • fore time
  • the good old days, the olden time, good old time
  • auld lang syne
  • eld. antiquity, antiqueness, status quo
  • time immemorial
  • distance of time
  • remote age, remote time
  • remote past
  • rust of antiquity. [study of the past] paleontology, paleography, paleology
  • paleozoology
  • palaetiology, archaeology
  • paleogeography
  • paleoecology
  • paleobotany
  • paleoclimatoogy
  • archaism, antiquarianism, medievalism, Pre-Raphaelitism
  • paleography. retrospect, retrospection, looking back
  • medievalist, Pre-Raphaelite
  • antiquary, antiquarian
  • archmologist etc.
  • Oldbuck, Dryasdust. ancestry etc. (paternity) Paternity.
Verbs
  • be past etc. adj.
  • have expired etc. adj., have run its course, have had its day
  • pass
  • pass by, go by, pass away, go away, pass off, go off
  • lapse, blow over. look back, trace back, cast the eyes back
  • exhume.
Adjectives
  • past, gone, gone by, over, passed away, bygone, foregone
  • elapsed, lapsed, preterlapsed, expired, no more, run out, blown over, has-been, that has been, extinct, antediluvian, antebellum, never to return, gone with the wind, exploded, forgotten, irrecoverable
  • obsolete etc. (old) Oldness. former, pristine, quondam, late
  • ancestral. foregoing
  • last, latter
  • recent, over night
  • preterperfect, preterpluperfect. looking back etc. v.
  • retrospective, retroactive
  • archaeological etc. n..
Adverbs
  • paleo-
  • archaeo-
  • formerly
  • of old, of yore
  • whilom, erewhile, time was, ago, over
  • in the olden time etc. n.
  • anciently, long ago, long since
  • a long while, a long time ago
  • years ago, yesteryear, ages ago
  • some time ago, some time since, some time back. yesterday, the day before yesterday
  • last year, ultimo
  • lately etc. (newly) Newness. retrospectively
  • ere now, before now, till now
  • hitherto, heretofore
  • no longer
  • once, once upon a time
  • from time immemorial, from prehistoric times
  • in the memory of man
  • time out of mind
  • already, yet, up to this time
  • ex post facto.
Phrases
  • time was
  • the time has been, the time hath been
  • you can't go home again
  • O call back yesterday, bid time return" [Richard II]
  • what's past is prologue" [Tempest]
  • whose yesterdays look backward with a smile" [Young].

Newness

Nouns
  • newness etc. adj.
  • novelty, recency
  • immaturity
  • youth etc. Youth
  • gloss of novelty. innovation
  • renovation etc. (restoration) Restoration. modernism
  • mushroom, parvenu
  • latest fashion.
Verbs
Adjectives
  • new, novel, recent, fresh, green
  • young etc. Youth
  • evergreen
  • raw, immature, unsettled, yeasty
  • virgin
  • untried, unhandseled, untrodden, untrod, unbeaten
  • fire-new, span-new. late, modern, neoteric, hypermodern, nouveau
  • new-born, nascent, neonatal [Med.], new-fashioned, new-fangled, new-fledged
  • of yesterday
  • just out, brand-new, up to date, up to the minute, with it, fashionable, in fashion
  • in, hip [Coll.]
  • vernal, renovated, sempervirent, sempervirid. fresh as a rose, fresh as a daisy, fresh as paint
  • spick and span.
Adverbs
  • newly etc. adj.
  • afresh, anew, lately, just now, only yesterday, the other day
  • latterly, of late. not long ago, a short time ago.

Oldness

Nouns
  • oldness etc. adj.
  • age, antiquity
  • cobwebs of antiquity. maturity
  • decline, decay
  • senility etc. Age. seniority, eldership, primogeniture. archaism etc. (the past) [Retrospective time.] The Past
  • thing of the past, relic of the past
  • megatherium
  • Sanskrit. tradition, prescription, custom, immemorial usage, common law.
Verbs
  • be old etc. adj.
  • have had its day, have seen its day
  • become old etc. adj.
  • age, fade, senesce.
Adjectives
Adverbs
  • since the world was made, since the year one, since the days of Methuselah.

Morning (Noon)

Nouns
  • morning, morn, forenoon, a.m., prime, dawn, daybreak
  • dayspring, foreday, sunup
  • peep of day, break of day
  • aurora
  • first blush of the morning, first flush of the morning, prime of the morning
  • twilight, crepuscule, sunrise
  • cockcrow, cockcrowing
  • the small hours, the wee hours of the morning. spring
  • vernal equinox, first point of Aries. noon
  • midday, noonday
  • noontide, meridian, prime
  • nooning, noontime. summer, midsummer.
Adjectives
  • matin, matutinal
  • vernal.
Adverbs
  • at sunrise etc. n.
  • with the sun, with the lark, when the morning dawns."
Phrases
  • at shut of evening flowers" [Paradise Lost]
  • flames in the forehead of the morning sky" [Milton]
  • the breezy call of incense-breathing morn" [Gray].

Evening (Midnight)

Nouns
  • evening, eve
  • decline of day, fall of day, close of day
  • candlelight, candlelighting
  • eventide, nightfall, curfew, dusk, twilight, eleventh hour
  • sunset, sundown
  • going down of the sun, cock-shut, dewy eve, gloaming, bedtime. afternoon, postmeridian, p.m. autumn, fall, fall of the leaf
  • autumnal equinox
  • Indian summer, St. Luke's summer, St. Martin's summer. midnight
  • dead of night, witching hour, witching hour of night, witching time of night
  • winter
  • killing time.
Adjectives
  • vespertine, autumnal, nocturnal.
Phrases
  • midnight, the outpost of advancing day" [Longfellow]
  • sable-vested Night" [Milton]
  • this gorgeous arch with golden worlds inlay'd" [Young].

Youth

Nouns
  • youth
  • juvenility, juvenescence
  • juniority
  • infancy
  • babyhood, childhood, boyhood, girlhood, youthhood
  • incunabula
  • minority, nonage, teens, tender age, bloom. cradle, nursery, leading strings, pupilage, puberty, pucelage. prime of life, flower of life, springtide of life, seedtime of life, golden season of life
  • heyday of youth, school days
  • rising generation.
Adjectives
  • young, youthful, juvenile, green, callow, budding, sappy, puisne, beardless, under age, in one's teens
  • younger, junior
  • hebetic, unfledged.
Phrases
  • youth on the prow and pleasure at the helm" [Gray]
  • youth a the glad season of life" [Carlyle].

Age

Nouns
  • age
  • oldness etc. adj.
  • old age, advanced age, golden years
  • senility, senescence
  • years, anility, gray hairs, climacteric, grand climacteric, declining years, decrepitude, hoary age, caducity, superannuation
  • second childhood, second childishness
  • dotage
  • vale of years, decline of life, sear and yellow leaf" [Macbeth]
  • threescore years and ten
  • green old age, ripe age
  • longevity
  • time of life. seniority, eldership
  • elders etc. (veteran) Veteran
  • firstling
  • doyen, father
  • primogeniture. [Science of old age.] geriatrics, nostology.
Verbs
  • be aged etc. adj.
  • grow old, get old etc. adj.
  • age
  • decline, wane, dodder
  • senesce.
Adjectives
  • aged
  • old etc. Oldness
  • elderly, geriatric, senile
  • matronly, anile
  • in years
  • ripe, mellow, run to seed, declining, waning, past one's prime
  • gray, gray-headed
  • hoar, hoary
  • venerable, time-worn, antiquated, passe, effete, decrepit, superannuated
  • advanced in life, advanced in years
  • stricken in years
  • wrinkled, marked withthe crow's foot
  • having one foot in the grave
  • doting etc. (imbecile) Imbecility. Folly
  • like the last of pea time. older, elder, eldest
  • senior
  • firstborn. turned of, years old
  • of a certain age, no chicken, old as Methuselah
  • ancestral, patriarchal, c. (ancient) Oldness
  • gerontic.
Phrases
  • give me a staff of honor for my age" [Titus Andronicus]
  • old age is creeping on apace" [Byron]
  • slow-consuming age" [Gray]
  • the hoary head is a crown of glory" [Proverbs xvi, Greatness]
  • the silver livery of advised age" [II Henry VI]
  • to grow old gracefully
  • to vanish in the chinks that Time has made" [Rogers].

Infant

Nouns
  • infant, babe, baby, babe in arms
  • nurseling, suckling, yearling, weanling
  • papoose, bambino
  • kid
  • vagitus. child, bairn [Scot.], little one, brat, chit, pickaninny, urchin
  • bantling, bratling
  • elf. youth, boy, lad, stripling, youngster, youngun, younker, callant, whipster, whippersnapper, whiffet [U.S.], schoolboy, hobbledehoy, hopeful, cadet, minor, master. scion
  • sap, seedling
  • tendril, olive branch, nestling, chicken, larva, chrysalis, tadpole, whelp, cub, pullet, fry, callow
  • codlin, codling
  • foetus, calf, colt, pup, foal, kitten
  • lamb, lambkin
  • aurelia, caterpillar, cocoon, nymph, nympha, orphan, pupa, staddle. girl
  • lass, lassie
  • wench, miss, damsel, demoiselle
  • maid, maiden
  • virgin
  • hoyden.
Adjectives
  • infantine, infantile
  • puerile
  • boyish, girlish, childish, babyish, kittenish
  • baby
  • newborn, unfledged, new-fledged, callow. in the cradle, in swaddling clothes, in long clothes, in arms, in leading strings
  • at the breast
  • in one's teens.

Veteran

Nouns
  • veteran, old man, seer, patriarch, graybeard
  • grandfather, grandsire
  • grandam
  • gaffer, gammer
  • crone
  • pantaloon
  • sexagenarian, octogenarian, nonagenarian, centenarian
  • old stager
  • dotard etc. Fool. preadamite, Methuselah, Nestor, old Parr
  • elders
  • forefathers etc. (paternity) Paternity.
Phrases
  • superfluous lags the veteran on the superfluous lags the veteran on the stage" [Johnson].

Adolescence

Nouns
  • adolescence, pubescence, majority
  • adultism
  • adultness etc. adj.
  • manhood, virility, maturity full age, ripe age
  • flower of age
  • prime of life, meridian of life, spring of life. man etc. Man
  • woman etc. Woman
  • adult, no chicken.
Verbs
  • come of age, come to man's estate, come to years of discretion
  • attain majority
  • have cut one's eyeteeth, have sown one's mild oats.
Adjectives
  • adolescent, pubescent, of age
  • of full age, of ripe age
  • out of one's teens, grown up, mature, full grown, in one's prime, middle-aged, manly, virile, adult
  • womanly, matronly
  • marriageable, nubile.

Earliness

Nouns
Verbs
  • be early etc. adj., be beforehand etc. adv.
  • keep time, take time by the forelock, anticipate, forestall
  • have the start, gain the start
  • steal a march upon
  • gain time, draw on futurity
  • bespeak, secure, engage, preengage. accelerate
  • expedite etc. (quicken) Velocity
  • make haste etc. (hurry) Haste.
Adjectives
Adverbs
  • early, soon, anon, betimes, rath
  • eft, eftsoons
  • ere long, before long, shortly
  • beforehand
  • prematurely etc. adj.
  • precipitately etc. (hastily) Haste
  • too soon
  • before its time, before one's time
  • in anticipation
  • unexpectedly etc. Inexpectation. suddenly etc. (instantaneously) [Point of time] Instantaneity
  • before one can say 'Jack Robinson', " at short notice, extempore
  • on the spur of the moment, on the spur of the occasion [Bacon]
  • at once
  • on the spot, on the instant
  • at sight
  • offhand, out of hand
  • straight, straightway, straightforth
  • forthwith, incontinently, summarily, immediately, briefly, shortly, quickly, speedily, apace, before the ink is dry, almost immediately, presently at the first opportunity, in no long time, by and by, in a while, directly.
Phrases
  • no sooner said than done, immediately, if not sooner

Punctuality

Nouns
  • punctuality, promptness, immediateness.
Verbs
  • be prompt, be on time, be in time
  • arrive on time
  • be in the nick of time.
Adjectives
  • timely, seasonable, in time, punctual, prompt.
Adverbs
  • on time, punctually, at the deadline, precisely, exactly
  • right on time, to the minute
  • in time
  • in good time, in military time, in pudding time, in due time
  • time enough
  • with no time to spare, by a hair's breadth.
Phrases
  • touch and go, not a minute too soon, in the nick of time, just under the wire, get on board before the train leaves the get on board before the train leaves the station.

Lateness

Nouns
  • lateness etc. adj.
  • tardiness etc. (slowness) Slowness. delay, delation
  • cunctation, procrastination
  • deferring, deferral etc. v.
  • postponement, adjournment, prorogation, retardation, respite, pause, reprieve, stay of execution
  • protraction, prolongation
  • Fabian policy, chancery suit, federal case
  • leeway
  • high time
  • moratorium, holdover.
Verbs
  • be late etc. adj.
  • tarry, wait, stay, bide, take time
  • dawdle etc. (be inactive) Inactivity
  • linger, loiter
  • bide one's time, take one's time
  • gain time
  • hang fire
  • stand over, lie over. put off, defer, delay, lay over, suspend
  • table [Parl.]
  • shift off, stave off
  • waive, retard, remand, postpone, adjourn
  • procrastinate
  • dally
  • prolong, protract
  • spin out, draw out, lengthen out, stretch out
  • prorogue
  • keep back
  • tide over
  • push to the last, drive to the last
  • let the matter stand over
  • reserve etc. (store) Store
  • temporize
  • consult one's pillow, sleep on it. lose an opportunity etc. Untimeliness
  • be kept waiting, dance attendance
  • kick one's heels, cool one's heels
  • wait impatiently
  • await etc. (expect) Expectation
  • sit up, sit up at night.
Adjectives
  • late, tardy, slow, behindhand, serotine, belated, postliminious, posthumous, backward, unpunctual, untimely
  • delayed, postponed
  • dilatory etc. (slow) Slowness
  • delayed etc. v.
  • in abeyance.
Adverbs
  • late
  • lateward, backward
  • late in the day
  • at sunset, at the eleventh hour, at length, at last
  • ultimately
  • after time, behind time, after the deadline
  • too late
  • too late for etc. Untimeliness. slowly, leisurely, deliberately, at one's leisure
  • ex post facto
  • sine die.
Phrases
  • against the sunbeams serotine and lucent" [Longfellow]

Occasion

Nouns
  • timeliness, occasion, opportunity, opening, room
  • event (eventuality) Eventuality
  • suitable season, proper season, suitable time, proper time
  • high time
  • opportuneness etc. adj.
  • tempestivity. crisis, turn, juncture, conjuncture
  • crisis, turning point, given time. nick of time
  • golden opportunity, well timed opportunity, fine opportunity, favorable opportunity, opening
  • clear stage, fair field
  • spare time etc. (leisure) Leisure.
Verbs
  • seize an opportunity etc. (take) Taking, use an opportunity etc. Use, give an opportunity etc. Giving, use an occasion
  • improve the occasion. suit the occasion etc. (be expedient) [Specific subservience.] Expedience. seize the occasion, strike while the iron is hot, make hay while the sun shines, seize the present hour, take time by the forelock
Adjectives
  • opportune, timely, well-timed, timeful, seasonable. providential, lucky, fortunate, happy, favorable, propitious, auspicious, critical
  • suitable etc. Agreement
  • obiter dicta.
Adverbs
  • opportunely etc. adj.
  • in proper course, in due course, in proper season, in due season, in proper time, in due time
  • for the nonce
  • in the nick of time, in the fullness of time
  • all in good time
  • just in time, at the eleventh hour, now or never. by the way, by the by
  • parenthetically, by way of parenthesis, incidentally
  • while speaking of, while on the subject
  • extempore
  • on the spur of the moment, on the spur of the occasion
  • on the spot etc. (early) Earliness.
Phrases
  • [Horace]
  • one's hour is come, the time is up
  • that reminds me, now that you mention it, come to think of it

Untimeliness

Nouns
  • untimeliness, intempestivity, unseasonableness, inexpedience
  • unsuitable time, improper time
  • unreasonableness etc. adj.
  • evil hour
  • contretemps
  • intrusion
  • anachronism etc. [False estimate of time.] Anachronism. bad time, wrong time, inappropriate time, not the right occasion, unsuitable time, inopportune time, poor timing.
Verbs
  • be ill timed etc. adj.
  • mistime, intrude, come amiss, break in upon
  • have other fish to fry
  • be busy, be occupied. lose an opportunity, throw away an opportunity, waste an opportunity, neglect an opportunity etc. Neglect
  • allow the opportunity to pass, suffer the opportunity to pass, allow the opportunity to slip, suffer the opportunity to slip, allow the opportunity to go by, suffer the opportunity to go by, allow the opportunity to escape, suffer the opportunity to escape, allow the opportunity to lapse, suffer the opportunity to lapse, allow the occasion to pass, allow the occasion to slip by
  • waste time etc. (be inactive) Inactivity
  • let slip through the fingers, lock the barn door after the horse is stolen.
Adjectives
  • ill-timed, mistimed
  • ill-fated, ill-omened, ill-starred
  • untimely, unseasonable
  • out of date, out of season
  • inopportune, timeless, intrusive, untoward, unlucky, inauspicious, infelicitous, unbefitting, unpropitious, unfortunate, unfavorable
  • unsuited etc. Disagreement
  • inexpedient etc. Inexpedience. unpunctual etc. (late) Lateness
  • too late for
  • premature etc. (early) Earliness
  • too soon for
  • wise after the event, monday morning quarterbacking, twenty-twenty hindsight.
Adverbs
  • inopportunely etc. adj.
  • as ill luck would have it, in an evil hour, the time having gone by, a day after the fair.
Phrases
  • after death the doctor, after meat mustard.

Recurrent Time

Frequency

Nouns
Verbs
  • recur etc. Repetition
  • do nothing but
  • keep, keep on.
Adjectives
  • frequent, many times, not rare, thickcoming, incessant, perpetual, continual, steady, constant, thick
  • uniform
  • repeated etc. Repetition
  • customary etc. Habit [includes commonness due to frequency of occurrence]-habit-includes-commonness-due-to-frequency-of-occurrence">Habit [includes commonness due to frequency of occurrence] (habit) 613
  • regular (normal) Normality
  • according to rule etc. (conformable) Conformity. common, everyday, usual, ordinary, familiar. old-hat, boring, well-known, trivial.
Adverbs
  • often, oft
  • ofttimes, oftentimes
  • frequently
  • repeatedly etc. Repetition
  • unseldom, not unfrequently
  • in quick succession, in rapid succession
  • many a time and oft
  • daily, hourly etc.
  • every day, every hour, every moment etc., perpetually, continually, constantly, incessantly, without ceasing, at all times, daily and hourly, night and day, day and night, day after day, morning noon and night, ever anon, invariably (habit) Habit [includes commonness due to frequency of occurrence]. most often
  • commonly etc. (habitually) Habit [includes commonness due to frequency of occurrence]. sometimes, occasionally, at times, now and then, from time to time, there being times when, often enough, when the mood strikes, again and again.

Infrequency

Nouns
  • infrequency, rareness, rarity
  • fewness etc. Fewness
  • seldomness
  • uncommonness.
Verbs
  • be rare etc. adj..
Adjectives
  • unfrequent, infrequent
  • rare, rare as a blue diamond
  • few etc. Fewness
  • scarce
  • almost unheard of, unprecedented, which has not occurred within the memory of the which has not occurred within the memory of the oldest inhabitant, not within one's previous experience
  • not since Adam. scarce as hen's teeth
  • one in a million
  • few and far between.
Adverbs
  • seldom, rarely, scarcely, hardly
  • not often, not much, infrequently, unfrequently, unoften
  • scarcely, scarcely ever, hardly ever
  • once in a blue moon. once
  • once in a blue moon
  • once in a million years
  • once for all, once in a way

Periodicity (Regularity of recurrence)

Nouns
  • periodicity, intermittence
  • beat
  • oscillation etc. [Reciprocating motion, motion to and fro.] Oscillation
  • pulse, pulsation
  • rhythm
  • alternation, alternateness, alternativeness, alternity. bout, round, revolution, rotation, turn, say. anniversary, jubilee, centenary. catamenia, courses, menses, menstrual flux. [Regularity of return] rota, cycle, period, stated time, routine
  • days of the week
  • Sunday, Monday etc.
  • months of the year
  • January etc.
  • feast, fast etc.
  • Christmas, Easter, New Year's day etc.
  • Allhallows, Allhallowmas, All Saints' Day
  • All Souls', All Souls' Day
  • Ash Wednesday, bicentennial, birthday, bissextile, Candlemas, Dewali, groundhog day [U.S.], Halloween, Hallowmas, Lady day, leap year, Midsummer day, Muharram, woodchuck day [U.S.], St. Swithin's day, natal day
  • yearbook
  • yuletide. punctuality, regularity, steadiness.
Verbs
  • recur in regular order, recur in regular succession
  • return, revolve
  • come again, come in its turn
  • come round, come round again
  • beat, pulsate
  • alternate
  • intermit.
Adjectives
  • periodic, periodical
  • serial, recurrent, cyclical, rhythmical
  • recurring etc. v.
  • intermittent, remittent
  • alternate, every other. hourly
  • diurnal, daily
  • quotidian, tertian, weekly
  • hebdomadal, hebdomadary
  • biweekly, fortnightly
  • bimonthly
  • catamenial
  • monthly, menstrual
  • yearly, annual
  • biennial, triennial, c.
  • centennial, secular
  • paschal, lenten, c. regular, steady, punctual, regular as clockwork.
Adverbs
  • periodically etc. adj.
  • at regular intervals, at stated times
  • at fixed established, at established periods
  • from day to day, day by day. by turns
  • in turn, in rotation
  • alternately, every other day, off and on, ride and tie, round and round.

Irregularity of recurrence

Nouns
  • irregularity, uncertainty, unpunctuality
  • fitfulness etc. adj.
  • capriciousness, ecrhythmus.
Adjectives
  • irregular, uncertain, unpunctual, capricious, desultory, fitful, flickering
  • rambling, rhapsodical
  • spasmodic
  • immethodical, unmethodical, variable.
Adverbs