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
The project experienced significant delays and cost overruns, with original estimates of 300 million Swedish kronor that eventually exceeded 500 million kronor by the time excavation began.
—
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025
Investing the seed money, plus maxing out contributions each year at $5,000 up until age 18, then letting the account grow for another 10 years, would yield a portfolio worth $698,000 by the time the child turns 28.
—Lauren Young, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
But by the time Season 11 ended on a messy, emotional, fourth-wall-breaking note, the cast had become too fractious (and expensive) to retain.
—Judy Berman, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Additionally, anyone selling their home before 2028 will lose out on any credits not issued by the time of sale.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by the time
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Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025
Investing the seed money, plus maxing out contributions each year at $5,000 up until age 18, then letting the account grow for another 10 years, would yield a portfolio worth $698,000 by the time the child turns 28.
—Lauren Young, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
But by the time Season 11 ended on a messy, emotional, fourth-wall-breaking note, the cast had become too fractious (and expensive) to retain.
—Judy Berman, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Additionally, anyone selling their home before 2028 will lose out on any credits not issued by the time of sale.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 17 Dec. 2025.
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