Meaning & use
for time
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrasesport
In a race or sport, with the aim of finishing as quickly as possible rather than beating a rival.
Grammar: Comes after a verb such as race, swim, or row: They raced for time. It does not take an object.
Patterns
- race for time
- swim for time
- row for time
The final heat was swum for time, with no direct opponents in the pool.
Because the other team withdrew, our relay ran for time to set a qualifying mark.
In the time trial, each cyclist rides alone and races for time.
phrasefixed phraseinformal
In order to gain extra time before something must be decided or done.
Grammar: Used after verbs like play or stall: They played for time. It is not used before a noun.
Patterns
- play for time
- stall for time
The manager made another substitution just to play for time.
She kept asking questions to stall for time while she thought of an answer.
Common combinations
- race for time
- With no rivals left, he raced for time and beat the record.
- swim for time
- The swimmers swam for time in the qualifying round.
- play for time
- The team played for time by keeping the ball near the corner.
- stall for time
- He stalled for time by pretending not to hear the question.
Synonyms and how they differ
- against the clock
- Against the clock means under time pressure; for time means the goal itself is a fast time, as in a time trial.
- time trial
- A time trial is the event; for time is the phrase describing how you compete in it.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: for time or on time? for time or in time?
for time vs on time
On time means not late; for time means competing to achieve a fast time.
for time vs in time
In time means early enough before a deadline; for time has nothing to do with being early.
Practice
In a time trial, each skier goes down the slope alone. How do they compete?
Choose one answer.
In a time trial, skiers race for time, meaning the fastest clock time wins. 'For points' would describe a judged event, and 'on time' just means not late.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “for time”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.