Time & Frequency

Words for expressing time and regularity

Introduction

Time governs our lives, and expressing it accurately is crucial for clear communication. From scheduling appointments to describing how often things happen, time vocabulary is constantly in use.

This chapter covers the essential words for discussing time. You'll learn vocabulary for specific moments, durations, sequences, and frequency, helping you express temporal concepts precisely.

Themes

All Vocabulary (NGSL) in This Chapter (106)

• know To be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information
• when At what time; at the time that; considering that
• time The indefinite continued progress of existence; a point or period
• year A period of twelve months; the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun
• now At the present time; immediately
• then At that time; after that; in that case
• first Coming before all others in time, order, or importance
• after Following in time or place; in pursuit of
• may Expressing possibility; asking for or giving permission
• last Coming after all others; most recent; to continue for a period
• before Earlier in time; in front of in position; previously
• start To begin; the beginning of something
• late After the expected time; near the end of a period; deceased
• end The final part of something; to finish or conclude
• while During the time that; a period of time; although
• week A period of seven days; the working days of this period
• never At no time in the past or future; not at all
• during Throughout the course of a period of time; at some point within a period
• begin To start; to perform the first part of an action
• early Before the expected or usual time; near the beginning of a period
• month One of the twelve periods of time that a year is divided into
• second The number two in a sequence; a very short period of time
• hour A period of sixty minutes
• spend To use money to buy something; to pass time doing something
• once One time only; as soon as; formerly
• concern Worry or anxiety; to be about or relevant to something
• send To cause something to go from one place to another
• soon In a short time from now; before long
• watch To look at something attentively; a small timepiece worn on the wrist
• past The time before now; beyond or further than
• minute A unit of time equal to 60 seconds; a very short period of time
• future The time that will come after the present; what will happen later
• period A length of time; an era or stage in history; a punctuation mark (.)
• moment A very short period of time; a particular point in time
• maybe Perhaps; possibly
• finally At last; after a long time or delay; as a last point
• century A period of one hundred years
• finish To complete something; to come to an end
• recently Not long ago; in the recent past
• recent Having happened or been done not long ago
• relate To have a connection; to tell a story; to understand someone's feelings
• summer The warmest season of the year, between spring and autumn
• final Last in a series; a decision that cannot be changed; the last game in a compe...
• tomorrow The day after today; the near future
• clearly In a way that is easy to understand or obvious
• depend To rely on or be determined by something else
• nearly Almost; very close to but not completely
• attend To be present at an event; to give attention to
• tend To regularly behave in a particular way or have a certain characteristic
• previous Existing or occurring before in time or order
• clock A device for measuring and displaying time
• weekend Saturday and Sunday; the end of the working week
• afternoon The period from midday until evening
• extend To make longer or larger; to stretch out; to offer
• independent Free from outside control; self-reliant
• recommend To suggest something as good or suitable
• intend To plan or mean to do something; to have a purpose
• decade A period of ten years
• annual Happening once every year or relating to a period of one year
• concept An abstract idea or general notion; a plan or intention
• twice Two times; on two occasions
• delay To make something happen later than planned; a period of waiting
• initial Existing at the beginning; the first letter of a name
• currently At the present time; now
• concert A live musical performance before an audience
• recommendation A suggestion about the best course of action; a statement of approval
• concentrate To focus attention; to gather in one place; a concentrated substance
• nevertheless Despite what has just been said; however
• previously At an earlier time; before now
• meanwhile At the same time, or in the intervening period
• plastic A synthetic material that can be moulded; relating to shaping or moulding
• concentration Close mental attention, or the amount of a substance in a mixture
• defend To protect from attack or harm; to speak in support of
• calculate To determine something mathematically; to estimate or assess
• secondly In the second place; used to introduce a second point
• snow Frozen water that falls from clouds as white flakes
• agenda A list of items for a meeting; a plan or goal
• isolate To separate from others; to identify a single factor; to keep apart
• secondary Of second rank or importance; relating to education for ages 11-18
• whenever At any time; every time that
• rarely Not often; seldom
• independence The state of being free from outside control; self-reliance
• bend To curve or make something curved; to move the body or a part of it
• gender The state of being male, female, or another identity; grammatical category
• lend To give something to someone temporarily
• translate To express words in another language
• dependent Relying on someone or something for support
• tendency An inclination to behave in a particular way
• march To walk with regular steps; the third month
• forever For all time; eternally; or for a very long time
• expenditure The act of spending money, time, or resources; the amount spent
• strengthen To make or become stronger
• pretend To act as if something is true when it is not
• regulate To control or maintain according to rules or standards
• amendment A change or addition to a law, document, or statement
• chocolate A sweet food made from roasted cacao beans
• stimulate To encourage or promote activity, growth, or interest in something
• nowhere Not in or to any place; having no success or progress
• weekly Happening or appearing once a week
• firstly Used to introduce the first point in a list or argument
• monthly Occurring once a month; a magazine published monthly
• attendance The act of being present; the number of people present
• suspend To temporarily stop; to hang from above
• mayor The elected head of a city or town
• tender Soft and gentle; easily damaged; a formal offer to do work
• autumn The season between summer and winter when leaves fall