Meaning & use
times
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Meanings
prepositionmathematics
Multiplied by; used between two numbers to show multiplication.
Grammar: Placed between the numbers: three times four.
Patterns
- number + times + number
Two times three equals six.
The room is five times larger than mine.
What is seven times eight?
nounplural
Occasions or instances when something happens; the plural of time.
Grammar: Used with plural verbs: times have changed.
Patterns
- several times
- many times
I've seen that film three times.
Times are hard for small businesses.
Common combinations
- times table
- Children learn their times tables at school.
- three times a week
- She goes swimming three times a week.
- at times
- At times, the work can be stressful.
- times two
- The recipe says flour times two for a bigger cake.
Synonyms and how they differ
- multiplied by
- More formal and used in writing; times is common in speech and informal math.
Word family
- time noun
- The singular form, meaning a particular moment or occasion.
Commonly confused: times or time?
times vs time
Time is singular and refers to one occasion or the general concept; times is plural and means multiple occasions or the multiplication word.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
Times is used between numbers to show multiplication, and the verb is singular because the subject is the result; time and times of are not used this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “times”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.