time of day: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “time of day” mean?
A specific point or period in the 24-hour cycle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific point or period in the 24-hour cycle; the approximate hour.
A moment or occasion considered for a particular activity or social engagement; figuratively, a small amount of attention or courtesy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Minor variations in phrasing for telling the time may occur (e.g., 'half past' vs. 'thirty after').
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “time of day” in a Sentence
At [possessive] time of dayWhat time of day is it?It's a [adjective] time of day.It depends on the time of day.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in scheduling: 'Please specify the time of day for the conference call.'
Academic
Used in describing cyclical phenomena: 'Plant respiration varies with the time of day.'
Everyday
Used in daily planning: 'At this time of day, the traffic is terrible.'
Technical
Used in computing/logistics for timestamping: 'The log records the exact time of day of each transaction.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “time of day”
- Using the indefinite article incorrectly: *'a time of a day' is wrong. Correct: 'a time of day' or 'a time of the day'.
- Confusing the core and idiomatic meanings: 'She gave me the time of day' could be literal or figurative, depending on context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning is about the hour, it has a common idiom meaning to show minimal courtesy or attention.
Yes, but it's less common. It's used when referring to multiple distinct periods: 'The traffic patterns at different times of day.'
They are often interchangeable. 'Time of day' is slightly more common and fixed in idioms. 'Time of the day' can emphasise a specific, known day.
It's grammatical but unnatural. The standard question is simply 'What time is it?' or 'What's the time?'
A specific point or period in the 24-hour cycle.
Time of day is usually neutral in register.
Time of day: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtaɪm əv ˈdeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtaɪm əv ˈdeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “give someone the time of day”
- “not give someone the time of day”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DAY' is divided into specific 'TIMEs' - morning TIME, lunch TIME, night TIME.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE ("wasting time"), TIME IS A LANDSCAPE ("moving through the day"), TIME IS A CONTAINER ("filled at this time of day").
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'not give someone the time of day' mean?