time was (when)
idiom
old-fashioned
—used to say that something was true in the past and usually to express annoyance that it is no longer true
Time was, you could buy a candy bar for a nickel.
Time was when people respected their elders.
Examples of time was (when) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Answering the 100-year-old business’ emails at the time was Mia S. McLeod.
State Senator Mia S. McLeod.
—
Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
From ordering to delivery time was about five days.
—Melissa Maria, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2025
The broader idea at the time was this: Schools that kept a relentless eye on sending more students to and through college could help lift the next generation of New Orleanians out of poverty.
—Sarah Carr, NPR, 27 Aug. 2025
However, the partisan gap at the time was 35 points because only 36 percent of Democrats were satisfied with the country's direction at the time.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Musk at the time was spearheading President Donald Trump’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency, and protests were occurring across the country at Tesla dealerships.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 26 Aug. 2025
My boyfriend at the time was working for Jack Nicholson.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025
The payload this time was Metop-SGA1, an 8,900-pound (4,040-kilogram) weather satellite that will be operated by the international group EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites).
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
These occasions were wonderful, and everyone always seemed to have a great time, however, planning, preparing and hosting all of these events with both of us working full time was extremely stressful and costly.
—R Eric Thomas, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2025
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Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
From ordering to delivery time was about five days.
—Melissa Maria, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2025
The broader idea at the time was this: Schools that kept a relentless eye on sending more students to and through college could help lift the next generation of New Orleanians out of poverty.
—Sarah Carr, NPR, 27 Aug. 2025
However, the partisan gap at the time was 35 points because only 36 percent of Democrats were satisfied with the country's direction at the time.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Musk at the time was spearheading President Donald Trump’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency, and protests were occurring across the country at Tesla dealerships.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 26 Aug. 2025
My boyfriend at the time was working for Jack Nicholson.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025
The payload this time was Metop-SGA1, an 8,900-pound (4,040-kilogram) weather satellite that will be operated by the international group EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites).
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
These occasions were wonderful, and everyone always seemed to have a great time, however, planning, preparing and hosting all of these events with both of us working full time was extremely stressful and costly.
—R Eric Thomas, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Time was (when).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time%20was%20%28when%29. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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