all the time

IPA/ˈɔːl ðə tˈaɪm/
IPA/ˈɔːl ðə tˈaɪm/

all the time — idiom

1. again and again, or with no real break, through the period being discussed.

1.idiomA2
Definition

again and again, or with no real break, through the period being discussed.

Example

Kenji keeps his phone on the kitchen counter all the time.

verb + object + all the time

Brooke talks about moving to Seoul all the time lately.

all the time for repeated talk

Common collocations
  • complain all the time
  • be tired all the time
  • check all the time
Synonyms
  • constantly

    a direct, neutral alternative that can sound slightly stronger

  • continually

    often stresses repeated recurrence over a stretch of time

  • the whole time

    focuses more on the full duration of one event or period

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

verb + all the time

be + adjective + all the time

Usage Note

Usually comes after the main verb or near the end of the clause. It can describe something that continues without stopping, or something that happens so often that it feels continuous.

Common Mistakes

My phone all the time rings.
My phone rings all the time.
the phrase usually comes after the verb or later in the clause.
She was all the times late for class.
She was late for class all the time.
keep the fixed phrase 'all the time', not 'all the times'.

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

This phrase joins 'all' and 'time' to express the full span of a period. From that idea, English uses it adverbially for something that keeps happening without a real break, or happens so often that it feels continuous.