91 English words
English vocabulary for time
Useful English words about talking about when things happen, how often and in what order, with meanings, pronunciation and example sentences.
Words
A
- afterprepositionA1later than something; following in time or orderLet’s go for a walk after lunch.
- againadverbA1one more time; another timeCan you say that again, please?
- agenounA1the number of years someone has lived or something has existedShe started piano at the age of six.
- agoadverbA1before now; used to say how far back in the past something happenedI moved here three years ago.
- aheadadverbB1in front of someone or something, or forwardLook straight ahead and keep walking.
- alreadyadverbA2before now, or earlier than expectedI’ve already finished my homework.
- alwaysadverbA1at all times or every timeHe always drinks coffee in the morning.
B
C
- centurynounA2a period of one hundred yearsThe church was built in the 15th century.
- constantadjectiveB2happening all the time or again and againThe baby needs constant attention.
- continueverbA2to keep doing something or keep happening without stoppingThe rain continued all afternoon.
- currentadjectiveB1happening or existing nowWhat is your current address?
D
- darkadjectiveA1with little or no lightIt gets dark early in winter.
- daynounA1a period of 24 hoursThere are seven days in a week.
- decadenounB1a period of ten yearsPrices have doubled over the last decade.
- duringprepositionA2all through a period of time, or at some point within itThe phone rang during dinner.
E
- earlyadjectiveA1happening near the beginning of a period of timeWe left in the early morning.
- endnounA1the last part of a period of time, event, story or objectWe’re moving at the end of the month.
- enduringadjectiveC1lasting for a long timeThe film is an enduring classic.
- ensueverbC2to happen after or as a result of somethingAn argument ensued, and the police were called.
- eveningnounA1the part of the day between the afternoon and nightWe usually go for a walk in the evening.
- eventnounA2something that happens, especially something important or unusualThe fall of the Berlin Wall was a major historical event.
- everadverbA2at any time, used mostly in questions and negative sentencesHave you ever been to Japan?
F
- fallverbA1to drop down to the ground by accident or from a higher placeBe careful you don’t fall on the ice.
- finaladjectiveA2coming at the end; lastThis is the final episode of the series.
- finallyadverbA2after a long time or a lot of waitingAfter two hours, the bus finally arrived.
- finishverbA1to complete something, or to come to an endHave you finished your homework yet?
- firstadjectiveA1coming before all others in time, order or importanceJanuary is the first month of the year.
- formeradjectiveB1having been a particular thing in the past, but not nowThe former president gave a speech.
- futurenounA1the time that will come after nowNobody knows what the future will bring.
H
L
- lastadjectiveA1coming after all othersDecember is the last month of the year.
- lateadjectiveA1arriving or happening after the expected timeSorry I’m late; the bus was slow.
- lateradverbA1at a time in the future or after the time you are talking aboutI’ll call you later.
- longadjectiveA1measuring a great distance from one end to the otherShe has long dark hair.
M
- minutenounA1a period of sixty secondsThe bus will arrive in five minutes.
- modernadjectiveA2of the present time or the recent pastModern life is very busy for most people.
- momentnounA2a very short period of timeCould you wait a moment, please?
- monthnounA1one of the twelve periods that a year is divided intoWe’re moving house next month.
- morningnounA1the early part of the day, from when the sun rises until noonI usually go running in the morning.
N
- neveradverbA1not at any timeI’ve never been to Japan.
- newadjectiveA1recently made, bought or startedI love your new jacket.
- nextadjectiveA1coming straight after this one in time or orderThe next train leaves at 9:15.
- nightnounA1the time when it is dark, between evening and morningI couldn’t sleep last night.
- nowadverbA1at the present timeI’m busy now, can I call you later?
O
P
- pastnounA2the time before nowIn the past, people wrote letters by hand.
- periodnounA2a length of timeThe store will be closed for a short period.
- perpetualadjectiveC1never ending or changing; lasting foreverThe mountain peaks are covered in perpetual snow.
- plannounA1an idea or set of steps for doing something in the futureWhat are your plans for the weekend?
- PMadverbA1after midday; used after a time between 12 noon and midnightThe store closes at 9 PM.
- presentnounA2something you give to someone, for example on their birthdayThanks for the birthday present!
R
S
- seasonnounA1one of the four parts of the year: spring, summer, fall and winterFall is my favorite season.
- secondnumberA1coming after the first one in orderShe finished second in the race.
- sinceprepositionA2from a time in the past until nowI’ve lived here since 2015.
- sometimesadverbA1on some occasions but not alwaysI sometimes walk to work.
- soonadverbA1in a short time from now or from a certain timeDinner will be ready soon.
- spendverbA1to use money to pay for thingsI spent too much money on clothes.
- springnounA1the season between winter and summerThe flowers bloom in spring.
- stagenounA2a part or point in a processThe project is in its early stages.
- startverbA1to begin doing somethingIt started to rain.
- stilladverbA2continuing until now and not finishedAre you still working on it?
- suddenlyadverbA2quickly and without warningSuddenly, the lights went out.
- summernounA1the warmest season of the year, between spring and fallWe go camping every summer.
T
- tarryverbC2(old-fashioned) to stay somewhere longer than planned or to delay leavingWe tarried in the garden until the sun went down.
- termnounB1a word or phrase with a particular meaning“Byte” is a computer term.
- thenadverbA1at that time in the past or futureI lived in Boston back then.
- thisdeterminerA1used before a singular noun for something near you or being discussedThis coffee is really good.
- throughoutprepositionB2in every part of a placeThe store has branches throughout the country.
- timenounA1what is measured in minutes, hours, days, and yearsI don’t have much time today.
- todayadverbA1on this dayI have a test today.
- tonightadverbA1during the evening or night of todayAre you free tonight?
U
W
- waitverbA1to stay somewhere until something happens or someone comesPlease wait here for a moment.
- weeknounA1a period of seven daysI go to the gym three times a week.
- whenadverbA1used to ask at what timeWhen does the movie start?
- whileconjunctionA2during the time that something else happensI listened to music while I cooked.
- willmodal verbA1used to talk about the futureIt will rain tomorrow.
- withinprepositionB1before a period of time has passedPlease reply within three days.