Meaning & use
be on time
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
To arrive or happen at the planned or expected time, not late.
Grammar: The phrase is used for people, vehicles, events, or things that follow a schedule.
Patterns
- be on time
- be on time for + event
- be on time to + verb
Please be on time for the meeting tomorrow.
The train was on time, so we arrived early.
She is always on time to class.
Common combinations
- be on time for
- Try to be on time for the interview.
- be on time to
- He was on time to pick up his daughter.
- be on time every day
- The bus is on time every day.
- be on time with
- She is always on time with her payments.
Synonyms and how they differ
- be punctual
- 'Be punctual' is more formal and often used in writing or official contexts.
- be in time
- 'Be in time' means before a deadline or before it is too late, not necessarily at the exact scheduled time.
Opposites
Commonly confused: be on time or in time?
be on time vs in time
'In time' means early enough to do something, while 'on time' means at the exact planned time. For example, you can be in time to catch a train even if you arrive a few minutes early.
Practice
The concert starts at 8:00, so please ______.
Choose one answer.
'Be on time' means arrive at the scheduled time, which fits a concert start. 'Be in time' would mean early enough, but it does not fit the idea of a fixed start time. The other options are unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “be on time”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.