Adjectives to Describe Time
Hello English learners! Do you ever notice how often we talk about time in our everyday life? We are always planning for the future, talking about the past, or getting hung up on the present. Because of this, it becomes necessary to have a good supply of adjectives to describe time, so your English is more precise, expressive, and natural.
In this lesson, we will explore a variety of adjectives you can use when speaking or writing about time—whether you want to describe something as fleeting, historic, timeless, or even overdue. These words are especially useful if you are preparing for Cambridge exams like B2 First (FCE) or C1 Advanced (CAE), where strong vocabulary helps you impress the examiner.
| Adjective | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Fleeting | lasting for only a very short time. | Her joy was fleeting, gone as quickly as it appeared. |
| Prolonged | continuing for a long time, often longer than expected. | The meeting turned into a prolonged discussion about finances. |
| Imminent | about to happen very soon. | With dark clouds above, a storm seemed imminent. |
| Punctual | happening or arriving at the expected time. | She is always punctual for her classes. |
| Overdue | later than expected or required. | The project is already overdue and needs urgent attention. |
| Simultaneous | happening at the same time. Adjectives to Describe Time | The two teams made simultaneous announcements about the merger. |
| Contemporary | belonging to the same time period; modern. | Shakespeare and Cervantes were contemporary writers. |
| Outdated | old-fashioned; no longer useful or valid. | Her outdated teaching methods don’t engage students anymore. |
| Timeless | never going out of date; eternal. | The story of Romeo and Juliet is considered timeless. |
| Eventful | full of interesting or important events. | Our holiday in Spain was eventful from start to finish. |
| Scheduled | planned to happen at a particular time. | The flight is scheduled to depart at 6:45 a.m. |
| Delayed | happening later than expected. | The train was delayed due to technical issues. |
| Historic | very important in history. | It was a historic moment when the Berlin Wall came down. |
| Temporary | lasting only for a short period. Adjectives to Describe Time | He found a temporary job during the summer holidays. |
| Permanent | lasting forever or for a very long time. | She decided to make London her permanent home. |
| Ancient | belonging to a time long past. | We visited ancient ruins in Greece. |
| Recent | happening not long ago. | There have been recent changes in the company’s policy. |
| Upcoming | happening soon in the future. | I’m nervous about my upcoming exam. |
| Continuous | going on without interruption. | They endured three days of continuous rain. |
| Irregular | not happening at consistent times. | The trains here run on an irregular schedule. |
| Inevitable | certain to happen, unavoidable. | The passing of time is inevitable, no matter how hard we try to stop it. |
| Intermittent | happening at irregular intervals; not continuous. | We had intermittent rain showers throughout the day. |
| Lengthy | lasting a long time, often more than desirable. | The speech turned into a lengthy lecture. |
| Momentary | lasting for a very short time. | She felt a momentary pang of regret before moving on. |
| Seasonal | connected with a particular time of year. | The town attracts many tourists during the seasonal festivals. |
| Rapid | happening very quickly. | The company’s rapid growth surprised everyone. |
| Gradual | happening slowly over a period of time. | Language learning is usually a gradual process. |
| Instantaneous | happening immediately. | The response on social media was almost instantaneous. Adjectives to Describe Time |
| Eternal | lasting forever, without end. | He declared his eternal love for her. |
| Periodic | occurring at intervals, from time to time. | The factory conducts periodic safety inspections. |
Time is something we all experience, but the way we talk about it can make a huge difference in how clear, fluent, and sophisticated our English sounds. By using adjectives such as fleeting, imminent, timeless, and eventful, you can describe moments with far more depth than simply saying “short” or “long.”
Go ahead and use a few of these adjectives in your next essay, exam practice, or even day-to-day conversation. The more you practice, the more comfortable they will sound. And don’t forget: expanding your vocabulary is like time itself—now and then slow, now and then fast, but constantly moving forward.
If you really want to learn English but don’t know how to do it and where to start, don’t hesitate to contact us. Book an online English lesson with one of our certified and experienced English teachers and take a test and consultation! Tap the banner to learn more!
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