money can be paid back over a five-year period.
a period of 3 weeks/2 years etc The project will last for a period of 2 years.
time /taim/ |n singular] a period of time - use this especially to talk about a period in the past, or when you are not saying whether the period was long or short: Bill had lost his job, and it was a difficuit time for him. I I really enjoyed my time at university.
during that/this time He played for Barcelona for four years, and during that time they won two major competitions.
for a time He chatted to us for a time, then left.
after a time After a time, I began to feel
more relaxed.
a wKile ,'э 'wail/ a period of time - use this when you do not want to say definitely how long the period is: Youll have to wait a while. We're very busy. I He lived in Japan for a while, a little while I spoke to Ken a little while ago and he seemed fine then, a long while For о long while, she sat and stared out of the window.
some time /,sAm taim/ a period of time,
especially a fairly long period: Roach died yesterday. He had been suffering from cancer for some time. I Some time later, we all met again. Of course, all this happened some time ago.
a long time
a long time э Jdij 'taim||-,class="underline" xij-' They've been married for 30 years - that's a long time. I The house has been empty for a long time. I The accident happened such a long time ago that I can 't remember much about it.
a very long time It's very well built and should last for a very long time.
Qages [л plural] spokf.n, espe
cially british a very long time: I've been standing here for ages. I It's ages since we saw Mark. I It takes ages to get to Glasgow by bus.
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kours/weeks/years many hours, weeks, or years and much longer than you think it should be: My wife had to wait for hours at the hospital. I It'll take them years to repair all the damage.
a short time
a minute/a moment /э min^t, э
'maomant/ [n singular] a very short time: Helen was here a minute ago. You've just missed her. I Can I show you something? It'll only take a minute. 1 Luke thought for a moment and then said: 'Would you like to come too?'
Qfl second (also a sec informal) /э seksnd, 3 'sek/ spoken a very short time - use this especially when asking someone to wait for a short time: Just a second -1 think it's on the desk upstairs.
not long /not iDf]j|-'loi!}/ a short time:
"How long will it take?" 'Oh, not long - just a couple of hours." I His book was published not long after he died.
Qa bit /э bit/ [n singular] british spoken a short time: Wait a bit, I've nearly finished. I Do you mind looking after the kids for a bit while I go out?
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at the same time as something else
at the same time /эt йэ ,seim 'taim/
Charlie and I arrived at the same time. + as / arrived at the same time as Charlie. I You must have been at Harvard at the same time as I was.
at once /at 'waiis/ if two or more things happen at once, they happen at the sametime, and this is annoying or it causes problems: I can't understand what you're saying when you both talk at once. I The problem with my job is that I have to do several things at once,
as ^ strong xzj [conjunction] especially written if something happens as something else is happening, it happens at the same time: As I walked towards the desk, he closed his book and stood up. just as (=at exactly the same time) Just as J was getting into the shower, the phone rang.
simultaneously /.smvrteiniaslill.sui-
[adul if two or more things happen simultaneously. they happen at exactly the same time: The two men aimed their pistols at each other and fired simultaneously. I The system can simultune- ously search up to 16 databases. simultaneous (adj] happening at exactly the same time: Police carried out simultaneous drug raids on several houses in the area.
fl\ Simultaneously is more formal than at the same time-
EQ while something else is happening
while /wail/ [con/unction] during the same period of time that something is happening: i bought a magazine while I was waiting for the train. I Til just make a phone call while you finish the dishes.
mean while /'mimwail/ facta] while something else is happening: Bill was upstairs, talking on the phone. Meanwhile, a burglar had broken in downstairs.
Ш not too late
ОП time /on 'taim/ if you do something on time, you do it at the arranged time, not too late: I'm never going to finish this work on time!
be on time The meeting starts at 10 a m - try to be on time.
right on time (-exactly at the correct time) The train arrived right on time.
Ln time /in taim before it is too late: If 1 get home in time, I'll take you swimming.
just in time (^almost not in time) You're just in time, Jill. We were about to leave without you.
+ for You've arrived just in time for the start of the game.
in time to do sth Luckily, we still got to the airport in time to catch the plane.
punctual /"pAijktJusI/ [adj] someone who is punctual arrives at the time that was arranged, and does not come late. It's very important to be punctual for appointments. punctually (acfu( The guests arrived punctually at 8 o'clock.
ul the right or wrong time to do something
the right time /йэ ,rait 'tarm/ the best time to do something, when you are most likely to get the result that you want the right time to do sth It seemed like the right time to start planning something new. I I don't think it's the right time to tell Jeff .
come at the right time (=happen at a time when you need it) I lost my job last month, so this offer has come at just the right time.
the wrong time /йэ ,rog 'taimlKnnj-/ a
time when you should not do something, because you will probably not be successful
the wrong time to do sth I think this is probably the wrong time to ask for a pay increase.