on time

adj, prep_phrase — 4 senses

on time

adj

1

Punctual or according to schedule; at the planned time.

Unless our train's not on time, we'll be home at three.

Antonyms: early, late

on time

prep_phrase

1

Punctually or according to the schedule.

The train arrived on time for the first time this week.
A company that makes a fetish of never exceeding the budget invites game-playing and other malarky. It is easy to forget the obvious: that it involves no skill to come in on time and under budget if the schedule and budget are generous enough.1993, Richard Barry, “Budgeting”, in The Management of International Oil Operations, Tulsa, Ok.: PennWell Books, →ISBN, page 331:

1 more example

My train arrives on time - an eight-car Class 387. A handful of passengers alight, but not too many board - certainly not enough to warrant eight cars.2025 October 15, 'Mystery Shopper', “About Anglia... and high scores”, in RAIL, number 1046, page 53:

2

By installments, payments over a period of time.

They bought their dining-room furniture on time.

3

Board games, Chess, Games By a player's running out of time.

Smith beat Jones on time.

Synonyms: in time
Related terms: on one's own time

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.