make time

English

Verb

make time (third-person singular simple present makes time, present participle making time, simple past and past participle made time)

1. (intransitive) To reserve a period of time to do something.

   Synonym: find time

   Let's make time next week to meet again.

   • 1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter 2, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC:

     "I've done ten dozen this week," she said proudly to Mrs. Morel.
     "T-t-t!" went the other. "I don't know how you can find time."
     "Eh!" said Mrs. Anthony. "You can find time if you make time."

2. (idiomatic, colloquial) To recover lost time, as by travelling faster than usual.

   We can really make time if we take the freeway.

   We made good time on the flight back because we had a tailwind.

3. (idiomatic, colloquial, dated) To spend time with a person in or in pursuit of a romantic relationship.

   He was always trying to make time with Nancy, but she just wasn't interested.

Translations

to reserve some time for something

• Greek: ξαδειάζω (xadeiázo)
• Portuguese: arranjar tempo, arrumar tempo, reservar (um) tempo,
• Russian: ^{(please verify)} находи́ть вре́мя на что-ли́бо (naxodítʹ vrémja na što-líbo)
• Spanish: sacar tiempo

See also

• make up for lost time