Time vs. Period — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 13, 2024
Time refers to the continuous, indefinite progress of existence, while a period specifically denotes a distinct duration or segment within time.
Difference Between Time and Period
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Time is a fundamental concept in both science and philosophy, encompassing the past, present, and future. Whereas, a period is a specific span within time, marked by a start and an end point.
Time is measured in seconds, minutes, hours, and years, which are universally accepted units. On the other hand, a period can refer to defined lengths like centuries, eras, or the duration of an event.
Time is an abstract, continuous sequence that does not rely on human observation to exist. Conversely, a period is often defined by human context, such as historical periods or the time allotted for a task.
In everyday usage, time can refer to the general concept of temporality and duration. Meanwhile, period often emphasizes a particular phase with characteristic features, like the Baroque period in music.
Time governs the rhythms of daily life, dictating when activities begin and end. In contrast, a period might be used to describe the length of these activities, such as a work period or a rest period.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The indefinite continued progress of events
A length or portion of time
Usage
General concept of duration
Specific duration with a start and end
Measurement
Seconds, minutes, hours, years
Could be seconds or millions of years
Dependence
Absolute, flows regardless of events
Often defined by particular events or uses
Example in context
The flow of time is constant.
The Jurassic period lasted millions of years
Compare with Definitions
Time
The indefinite continued progress of existence and events.
Time moves forward relentlessly.
Period
A length of time during which a series of events or an action takes place or is completed.
The construction period extended over two years.
Time
A dimension in which events can be ordered from the past through the present into the future.
She studies time as a physicist.
Period
A division of time that is a historical era distinguished by particular characteristics.
The Renaissance period was marked by a flourishing in arts and sciences.
Time
A non-spatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession.
The concept of time fascinates philosophers and scientists alike.
Period
The time during which something operates or continues.
The warranty period covers the first year of purchase.
Time
A particular point or period when something occurs.
The time for the meeting has been set for 10 AM.
Period
A specific phase in the life of an individual or the history of a society.
She was going through a difficult period in her life.
Time
Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to compare the duration of events or the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change of quantities in material reality or in the conscious experience.
Period
An interval of time characterized by the occurrence of a certain condition, event, or phenomenon
A period of economic prosperity.
Time
The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
Travel through space and time
One of the greatest wits of all time
Period
An interval of time characterized by the prevalence of a specified culture, ideology, or technology
Artifacts of the pre-Columbian period.
Time
A point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon
The time is 9.30
Period
An interval regarded as a distinct evolutionary or developmental phase
Picasso's early career is divided into his blue period and rose period.
Time
Time as allotted, available, or used
It would be a waste of time
We need more time
Period
(Geology) A unit of time, longer than an epoch and shorter than an era.
Time
An instance of something happening or being done; an occasion
This is the first time I have got into debt
The nurse came in four times a day
Period
Any of the divisions of the academic day.
Time
(following a number) expressing multiplication
Eleven times four is forty-four
Period
Sports & Games A division of the playing time of a game.
Time
The rhythmic pattern of a piece of music, as expressed by a time signature
Tunes in waltz time
Period
Physics & Astronomy The time interval between two successive occurrences of a recurrent event or phases of an event; a cycle
The period of a satellite's orbit.
Time
Plan, schedule, or arrange when (something) should happen or be done
The bomb had been timed to go off an hour later
The first track race is timed for 11.15
Period
See menstrual period.
Time
Measure the time taken by (a process or activity, or a person doing it)
I timed how long it took to empty that tanker
We were timed and given certificates according to our speed
Period
A point or portion of time at which something is ended; a completion or conclusion.
Time
(of a computer or a program) cancel an operation automatically because a predefined interval of time has passed without a certain event happening
Some networks will time out if they don't see activity going to the printer
Connections are timed out when they're not in use
Period
A punctuation mark ( . ) indicating a full stop, placed at the end of declarative sentences and other statements thought to be complete, and after many abbreviations.
Time
A nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.
Period
The full pause at the end of a spoken sentence.
Time
An interval separating two points on this continuum; a duration
A long time since the last war.
Passed the time reading.
Period
A sentence of several carefully balanced clauses in formal writing.
Time
A number, as of years, days, or minutes, representing such an interval
Ran the course in a time just under four minutes.
Period
A metrical unit of quantitative verse consisting of two or more cola.
Time
A similar number representing a specific point on this continuum, reckoned in hours and minutes
Checked her watch and recorded the time, 6:17 AM.
Period
An analogous unit or division of classical Greek or Latin prose.
Time
A system by which such intervals are measured or such numbers are reckoned
Solar time.
Period
(Music) A group of two or more phrases within a composition, often made up of 8 or 16 measures and terminating with a cadence.
Time
Often times An interval, especially a span of years, marked by similar events, conditions, or phenomena; an era
Hard times.
A time of troubles.
Period
The least interval in the range of the independent variable of a periodic function of a real variable in which all possible values of the dependent variable are assumed.
Time
Times The present with respect to prevailing conditions and trends
You must change with the times.
Period
A group of digits separated by commas in a written number.
Time
A suitable or opportune moment or season
A time for taking stock of one's life.
Period
The number of digits that repeat in a repeating decimal. For example, 1/7 = 0.142857142857 ... has a six-digit period.
Time
Periods or a period designated for a given activity
Harvest time.
Time for bed.
Period
(Chemistry) A sequence of elements arranged in order of increasing atomic number and forming one of the horizontal rows in the periodic table.
Time
Periods or a period necessary or available for a given activity
I have no time for golf.
Period
Of, belonging to, or representing a certain historical age or time
A period piece.
Period furniture.
Time
A period at one's disposal
Do you have time for a chat?.
Period
Used to emphasize finality, as when expressing a decision or an opinion
You're not going to the movies tonight, period!.
Time
An appointed or fated moment, especially of death or giving birth
He died before his time. Her time is near.
Period
A length of time.
There was a period of confusion following the announcement.
You'll be on probation for a six-month period.
Time
One of several instances
Knocked three times.
Addressed Congress for the last time before retirement.
Period
A period of time in history seen as a single coherent entity; an epoch, era.
Food rationing continued in the post-war period.
Time
Times Used to indicate the number of instances by which something is multiplied or divided
This tree is three times taller than that one. My library is many times smaller than hers.
Period
The punctuation mark “.” (indicating the ending of a sentence or marking an abbreviation).
Time
One's lifetime.
Period
(figurative) A decisive end to something; a stop.
Time
One's period of greatest activity or engagement.
Period
The length of time during which the same characteristics of a periodic phenomenon recur, such as the repetition of a wave or the rotation of a planet.
Time
A person's experience during a specific period or on a certain occasion
Had a good time at the party.
Period
(euphemism) Female menstruation; an episode of this.
When she is on her period, she prefers not to go swimming.
Time
A period of military service.
Period
A section of an artist's, writer's (etc.) career distinguished by a given quality, preoccupation etc.
This is one of the last paintings Picasso created during his Blue Period.
Time
A period of apprenticeship.
Period
Each of the divisions into which a school day is split, allocated to a given subject or activity.
I have math class in second period.
Time
(Informal) A prison sentence.
Period
Each of the intervals, typically three, of which a game is divided.
Gretzky scored in the last minute of the second period.
Time
The customary period of work
Hired for full time.
Period
One or more additional intervals to decide a tied game, an overtime period.
They won in the first overtime period.
Time
The period spent working.
Period
The length of time for a disease to run its course.
Time
The hourly pay rate
Earned double time on Sundays.
Period
An end or conclusion; the final point of a process etc.
Time
The period during which a radio or television program or commercial is broadcast
"There's television time to buy" (Brad Goldstein).
Period
(rhetoric) A complete sentence, especially one expressing a single thought or making a balanced, rhythmic whole.
Time
The rate of speed of a measured activity
Marching in double time.
Period
(obsolete) A specific moment during a given process; a point, a stage.
Time
The meter of a musical pattern
Three-quarter time.
Period
(chemistry) A row in the periodic table of the elements.
Time
The rate of speed at which a piece of music is played; the tempo.
Period
(geology) A geochronologic unit of millions to tens of millions of years; a subdivision of an era, and subdivided into epochs.
These fossils are from the Jurassic period.
Time
Chiefly British The hour at which a pub closes.
Period
(genetics) A Drosophila gene, the gene product of which is involved in regulation of the circadian rhythm.
Time
(Sports) A time-out.
Period
(music) Two phrases (an antecedent and a consequent phrase).
Time
Of, relating to, or measuring time.
Period
(math) The length of an interval over which a periodic function, periodic sequence or repeating decimal repeats; often the least such length.
Time
Constructed so as to operate at a particular moment
A time release.
Period
(archaic) End point, conclusion.
Time
Payable on a future date or dates.
Period
Designating anything from a given historical era. en
A period car
A period TV commercial
Time
Of or relating to installment buying
Time payments.
Period
Evoking, or appropriate for, a particular historical period, especially through the use of elaborate costumes and scenery.
Time
To set the time for (an event or occasion).
Period
That's final; that's the end of the matter (analogous to a period ending a sentence); end of story.
I know you don't want to go to the dentist, but your teeth need to be checked, period!
Time
To adjust to keep accurate time.
Period
To come to a period; to conclude.
Time
To adjust so that a force is applied or an action occurs at the desired time
Timed his swing so as to hit the ball squarely.
Period
To put an end to.
Time
To record the speed or duration of
Time a runner.
Period
A portion of time as limited and determined by some recurring phenomenon, as by the completion of a revolution of one of the heavenly bodies; a division of time, as a series of years, months, or days, in which something is completed, and ready to recommence and go on in the same order; as, the period of the sun, or the earth, or a comet.
Time
To set or maintain the tempo, speed, or duration of
Time a manufacturing process.
Period
A stated and recurring interval of time; more generally, an interval of time specified or left indefinite; a certain series of years, months, days, or the like; a time; a cycle; an age; an epoch; as, the period of the Roman republic.
How by art to make plants more lasting than their ordinary period.
Time
To speculate based on the anticipated short-term performance of (a market)
Time the stock market.
Period
One of the great divisions of geological time; as, the Tertiary period; the Glacial period. See the Chart of Geology.
Time
(uncountable) The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events.
Time stops for nobody.
The ebb and flow of time
Period
The termination or completion of a revolution, cycle, series of events, single event, or act; hence, a limit; a bound; an end; a conclusion.
So spake the archangel Michael; then paused,As at the world's great period.
Evils which shall never end till eternity hath a period.
This is the period of my ambition.
Time
A dimension of spacetime with the opposite metric signature to space dimensions; the fourth dimension.
Both science-fiction writers and physicists have written about travel through time.
Period
A complete sentence, from one full stop to another; esp., a well-proportioned, harmonious sentence.
Periods are beautiful when they are not too long.
Time
Change associated with the second law of thermodynamics; the physical and psychological result of increasing entropy.
Time slows down when you approach the speed of light.
Period
The punctuation point [.] that marks the end of a complete sentence, or of an abbreviated word.
Time
The property of a system which allows it to have more than one distinct configuration.
An essential definition of time should entail neither speed nor direction, just change.
Period
One of several similar sets of figures or terms usually marked by points or commas placed at regular intervals, as in numeration, in the extraction of roots, and in circulating decimals.
Time
A duration of time.
Period
The time of the exacerbation and remission of a disease, or of the paroxysm and intermission.
Time
(uncountable) A quantity of availability of duration.
More time is needed to complete the project.
You had plenty of time, but you waited until the last minute.
Are you finished yet? Time’s up!
Period
A complete musical sentence.
Time
(countable) A measurement of a quantity of time; a numerical or general indication of a length of progression.
A long time;
Record the individual times for the processes in each batch.
Only your best time is compared with the other competitors.
The algorithm runs in O(n2) time.
Period
To put an end to.
Time
The serving of a prison sentence.
The judge leniently granted a sentence with no hard time.
He is not living at home because he is doing time.
Period
To come to a period; to conclude. [Obs.] "You may period upon this, that," etc.
Time
(countable) An experience.
We had a wonderful time at the party.
Period
An amount of time;
A time period of 30 years
Hastened the period of time of his recovery
Picasso's blue period
Time
(countable) An era; (with the, sometimes in plural) the current era, the current state of affairs.
Roman times;
The time of the dinosaurs
Period
One of three periods of play in hockey games
Time
A person's youth or young adulthood, as opposed to the present day.
In my time, we respected our elders.
Period
A stage in the history of a culture having a definable place in space and time;
A novel from the Victorian period
Time
Time out; temporary, limited suspension of play.
Period
The interval taken to complete one cycle of a regularly repeating phenomenon
Time
An instant of time.
Period
The monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause;
The women were sickly and subject to excessive menstruation
A woman does not take the gout unless her menses be stopped
The semen begins to appear in males and to be emitted at the same time of life that the catamenia begin to flow in females
Time
(uncountable) How much of a day has passed; the moment, as indicated by a clock or similar device.
Excuse me, have you got the time?
What time is it, do you guess? Ten o’clock?
A computer keeps time using a clock battery.
Period
A punctuation mark (.) placed at the end of a declarative sentence to indicate a full stop or after abbreviations;
In England they call a period a stop
Time
(countable) A particular moment or hour; the appropriate moment or hour for something (especially with prepositional phrase or imperfect subjunctive).
It’s time for bed;
It’s time to sleep;
We must wait for the right time;
It's time we were going
Period
A unit of geological time during which a system of rocks formed;
Ganoid fishes swarmed during the earlier geological periods
Time
(countable) A numerical indication of a particular moment.
At what times do the trains arrive?;
These times were erroneously converted between zones
Period
The end or completion of something;
Death put a period to his endeavors
A change soon put a period to my tranquility
Time
(countable) An instance or occurrence.
When was the last time we went out? I don’t remember.
See you another time;
That’s three times he’s made the same mistake
Okay, but this is the last time. No more after that!
Period
A scheduled portion of time in a school day.
The lunch period at school is only thirty minutes long.
Time
Closing time.
Last call: it's almost time.
Time
The hour of childbirth.
Time
(as someone's time) The end of someone's life, conceived by the speaker as having been predestined.
It was his time.
Time
(countable) The measurement under some system of region of day or moment.
Let's synchronize our watches so we're not on different time.
Time
(countable) Ratio of comparison.
Your car runs three times faster than mine;
That is four times as heavy as this
Time
Tense.
The time of a verb
Time
(music) The measured duration of sounds; measure; tempo; rate of movement; rhythmical division.
Common or triple time;
The musician keeps good time.
Time
To measure or record the time, duration, or rate of.
I used a stopwatch to time myself running around the block.
Time
To choose when something begins or how long it lasts.
The President timed his speech badly, coinciding with the Super Bowl.
The bomb was timed to explode at 9:20 p.m.
Time
(obsolete) To keep or beat time; to proceed or move in time.
Time
(obsolete) To pass time; to delay.
Time
To regulate as to time; to accompany, or agree with, in time of movement.
Time
To measure, as in music or harmony.
Time
(tennis) Reminder by the umpire for the players to continue playing after their pause.
Time
The umpire's call in prizefights, etc.
Time
A call by a bartender to warn patrons that the establishment is closing and no more drinks will be served.
Time
Duration, considered independently of any system of measurement or any employment of terms which designate limited portions thereof.
The time wasteth [i. e. passes away] night and day.
I know of no ideas . . . that have a better claim to be accounted simple and original than those of space and time.
Time
A particular period or part of duration, whether past, present, or future; a point or portion of duration; as, the time was, or has been; the time is, or will be.
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.
Time
The period at which any definite event occurred, or person lived; age; period; era; as, the Spanish Armada was destroyed in the time of Queen Elizabeth; - often in the plural; as, ancient times; modern times.
Time
The duration of one's life; the hours and days which a person has at his disposal.
Believe me, your time is not your own; it belongs to God, to religion, to mankind.
Time
A proper time; a season; an opportunity.
There is . . . a time to every purpose.
The time of figs was not yet.
Time
Hour of travail, delivery, or parturition.
She was within one month of her time.
Time
Performance or occurrence of an action or event, considered with reference to repetition; addition of a number to itself; repetition; as, to double cloth four times; four times four, or sixteen.
Summers three times eight save one.
Time
The present life; existence in this world as contrasted with immortal life; definite, as contrasted with infinite, duration.
Till time and sin together cease.
Time
Tense.
Time
The measured duration of sounds; measure; tempo; rate of movement; rhythmical division; as, common or triple time; the musician keeps good time.
Some few lines set unto a solemn time.
Time
To appoint the time for; to bring, begin, or perform at the proper season or time; as, he timed his appearance rightly.
There is no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things.
Time
To regulate as to time; to accompany, or agree with, in time of movement.
Who overlooked the oars, and timed the stroke.
He was a thing of blood, whose every motionWas timed with dying cries.
Time
To ascertain or record the time, duration, or rate of; as, to time the speed of horses, or hours for workmen.
Time
To measure, as in music or harmony.
Time
To keep or beat time; to proceed or move in time.
With oar strokes timing to their song.
Time
To pass time; to delay.
Time
An instance or single occasion for some event;
This time he succeeded
He called four times
He could do ten at a clip
Time
An indefinite period (usually marked by specific attributes or activities);
He waited a long time
The time of year for planting
He was a great actor is his time
Time
A period of time considered as a resource under your control and sufficient to accomplish something;
Take time to smell the roses
I didn't have time to finish
It took more than half my time
Time
A suitable moment;
It is time to go
Time
The continuum of experience in which events pass from the future through the present to the past
Time
The time as given by a clock;
Do you know what time it is?
The time is 10 o'clock
Time
The fourth coordinate that is required (along with three spatial dimensions) to specify a physical event
Time
A person's experience on a particular occasion;
He had a time holding back the tears
They had a good time together
Time
Rhythm as given by division into parts of equal time
Time
The period of time a prisoner is imprisoned;
He served a prison term of 15 months
His sentence was 5 to 10 years
He is doing time in the county jail
Time
Measure the time or duration of an event or action or the person who performs an action in a certain period of time;
He clocked the runners
Time
Assign a time for an activity or event;
The candidate carefully timed his appearance at the disaster scene
Time
Set the speed, duration, or execution of;
We time the process to manufacture our cars very precisely
Time
Regulate or set the time of;
Time the clock
Time
Adjust so that a force is applied an an action occurs at the desired time;
The good player times his swing so as to hit the ball squarely
Time
The measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues.
The cooking time for rice is about 20 minutes.
Common Curiosities
Why is understanding time important?
Understanding time helps in organizing daily activities and understanding the universe's workings.
What is an example of a historical period?
The Victorian period in England, characterized by Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901.
Can "period" and "time" be used interchangeably?
They are not always interchangeable as "period" refers to a more specific timeframe within the broader concept of "time."
How is the concept of time used in science?
In science, time is a critical variable in physics that explains the sequence and duration of events and the rate of processes.
What are examples of periods in different contexts?
Examples include the Jurassic period in geology, a class period in education, or the probationary period in employment.
What does the term "periodic" imply?
The term "periodic" refers to something occurring at regular intervals within time, like a periodic meeting or a periodic comet.
What are the physical units of time?
Time is measured in units such as seconds, minutes, hours, and years, consistent across scientific and standard contexts.
What is the primary difference between time and a period?
Time is an ongoing sequence of events, while a period is a specific span with a defined beginning and end.
How does one measure a period?
A period is measured based on its start and end points, which can be seconds, years, or ages, depending on the context.
How do different cultures view time?
Cultural perceptions of time can vary significantly, from viewing it as a linear progression in Western societies to a cyclical flow in many Eastern traditions.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
