by the time
idiom
: at the time : when
I had lived in 12 different cities by the time I turned 18.
By the time she showed up, I was finished eating.
Examples of by the time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Écija agreed, adding that Spanish producers should look for stories grounded in current, relatable experiences rather than chasing trends that have worked elsewhere but could be out of favor by the time a show is ready to air.
—
Jamie Lang, Variety, 14 May 2024
But by the time detectives arrived to investigate, Greer was gone.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 11 May 2024
But attendance had grown substantially by the time the event began about 45 minutes later.
—Angie Orellana Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
State lawmakers must produce a balanced budget by the time the new fiscal year begins on July 1.
—Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 9 May 2024
The new dates will mark the pop star’s first time touring in both places, bringing her up to a total of 82 shows globally by the time the endeavor ends later this year.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 May 2024
All 10 students and the bus driver had already escaped the burning bus by the time firefighters and EMS arrived.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2024
These arrived so far ahead of construction that, by the time eight builders from the Tree House Community got there, the wood was covered in a thick layer of slime.
—Allison Keeley, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024
And then by the time the prior [authorization] is processed, 48 hours later, oftentimes that is out too.
—Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 17 Apr. 2024
Jamie Lang, Variety, 14 May 2024
But by the time detectives arrived to investigate, Greer was gone.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 11 May 2024
But attendance had grown substantially by the time the event began about 45 minutes later.
—Angie Orellana Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
State lawmakers must produce a balanced budget by the time the new fiscal year begins on July 1.
—Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 9 May 2024
The new dates will mark the pop star’s first time touring in both places, bringing her up to a total of 82 shows globally by the time the endeavor ends later this year.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 May 2024
All 10 students and the bus driver had already escaped the burning bus by the time firefighters and EMS arrived.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2024
These arrived so far ahead of construction that, by the time eight builders from the Tree House Community got there, the wood was covered in a thick layer of slime.
—Allison Keeley, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024
And then by the time the prior [authorization] is processed, 48 hours later, oftentimes that is out too.
—Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 17 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'by the time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near by the time
Cite this Entry
“By the time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20the%20time. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
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