good time: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very HighInformal to neutral
Quick answer
What does “good time” mean?
A period of enjoyable and pleasurable activity or experience.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A period of enjoyable and pleasurable activity or experience.
A period characterized by enjoyment, fun, and positive feelings, often involving social interaction and leisure. Can also refer to an opportune or suitable moment for doing something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Slang usage in reference to reduced prison sentence is common in both.
Connotations
Universally positive for the primary meaning. May carry slight juvenile or hedonistic connotations if overused in certain contexts (e.g., 'just looking for a good time').
Frequency
Extremely high and equally common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “good time” in a Sentence
[Subject] have a good time[Subject] be a good time to [verb]It is a good time for [noun/gerund]We had a good time [gerund phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in informal team-building contexts: 'We hope you had a good time at the conference.' More formally: 'an opportune time'.
Academic
Very rare in its core meaning. May appear in sociological or psychological texts discussing leisure.
Everyday
Extremely common in social recounting: 'Did you have a good time?' or planning: 'Now's a good time to call.'
Technical
Virtually non-existent, except potentially in legal/correctional contexts referring to 'good time credit' for prisoners.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “good time”
- Using 'good time' as an adjective (e.g., 'It was a good time party' - incorrect).
- Confusing 'have a good time' with 'take your time'.
- Overusing the phrase in formal writing where 'enjoyable experience' or 'opportune moment' is better.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its most common meaning refers to enjoyment, it also frequently means 'an appropriate or opportune moment' (e.g., 'Is this a good time to call?').
No, that is incorrect. The standard collocation is 'have a good time' or 'had a good time'. The verb 'do' is not used with this phrase.
It is neutral to informal. In very formal writing, alternatives like 'enjoyable experience', 'pleasant occasion', or 'opportune moment' are often preferred.
'Great time' is a stronger intensifier, implying more enjoyment than 'good time'. Both are common, with 'great' being more emphatic and colloquial.
A period of enjoyable and pleasurable activity or experience.
Good time: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡʊd ˈtaɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡʊd ˈtaɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “have the time of one's life”
- “paint the town red”
- “live it up”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a clock (TIME) with a smiley face (GOOD) on it. When the hands point to fun, it's a GOOD TIME.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENJOYMENT IS A COMMODITY / PLEASURE IS A LOCATION ('We had a good time', 'We are in for a good time'). TIME IS AN OPPORTUNITY ('Now is a good time').
Practice
Quiz
In a legal/correctional context, what can 'good time' specifically refer to?