By this time means “already” or “no later than now,” showing what should be finished before a stated point in time.
You hear by this time when someone compares what’s happening now with what they expected to happen earlier. It’s a time marker that quietly says, “This should have happened already.”
It’s handy in daily speech, in writing, and in exams because it does two jobs at once: it sets a deadline, and it hints at a gap between plan and reality.
By This Time Meaning In Daily English
In plain terms, by this time points to a moment that has arrived. It says an action was expected to be done before that moment, or that it’s normally done before that moment.
You can use it to show routine (“By this time, I’m in bed”) or expectation (“I thought you’d be done by this time”). In both cases, the phrase looks back from a reference point and checks what is finished.
| Use | What It Signals | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Expectation | Something should already be done | I thought you’d be home by this time. |
| Routine | A normal habit by a usual hour | By this time, she’s usually finished dinner. |
| Deadline | Not later than a set point | Please send the file by this time tomorrow. |
| Progress Check | A stage that should be reached | By this time in the course, you should know the basics. |
| Worry | Someone is late compared with a pattern | I’m worried; he’s normally at work before this time. |
| Surprise | An outcome arrived sooner than expected | We’d sold out by this time, which caught us off guard. |
| Storytelling | Time jump to show what had happened | By this time, the crowd had already left. |
| Later Reference | A point ahead used like a checkpoint | By this time next week, we’ll be in Dhaka. |
Notice the quiet time math in those lines. The phrase does not tell you the exact hour by itself. It leans on the surrounding context: “by this time tomorrow,” “by this time next week,” or a shared sense of “now.”
How “By This Time” Works With Verb Tenses
Verb tense is where many learners slip. The phrase often pairs with perfect tenses because it points to completion before a reference point.
Present Perfect And “By This Time”
Use the present perfect when the reference point is now and you care about completion.
- By this time, I’ve finished the report.
- By this time, they’ve already eaten.
Past Perfect For A Past Reference Point
Use the past perfect when you’re telling a story and the reference point is in the past.
- By this time, she had called three times.
- By this time, the rain had stopped.
Perfect Tense With “Will Have” For A Point Ahead
When you name a point ahead, the “will have” perfect fits because it marks completion before that later checkpoint.
- By this time tomorrow, I’ll have submitted the form.
- By this time next month, they’ll have moved.
If you want a quick reference for common usage and examples, see the Cambridge Dictionary definition of “by this time”.
Simple Tenses Still Work In Some Cases
You can still use simple tenses when the sentence is about a routine or a general schedule, not a completed action.
- By this time, the train arrives at Platform 3.
- By this time in the evening, the shop closes.
These sound natural when the speaker treats the schedule like a repeating fact. In other contexts, a perfect tense reads cleaner.
By This Time Vs “By Now” Vs “By Then”
These phrases sit close together, so mix-ups are common. The difference is the reference point.
By Now
By now is tied to the present moment. It often carries a tone of expectation or impatience.
- He should be here by now.
- By now, you’ve heard the news.
By Then
By then points to a time that has already been mentioned. It needs context.
- We’ll reach the station at 6. By then, the gates will be open.
- She graduated in June. By then, she had saved enough money.
By This Time
By this time points to a time that feels “current” inside the speaker’s frame. That frame can be now, a named hour, or a later checkpoint.
- By this time, I’m usually asleep.
- By this time tomorrow, we’ll have the answers.
Choosing Between “By This Time” And “By The Time”
These two sound alike, but their grammar is not the same.
“By This Time” Is A Time Phrase
It works like an adverbial phrase. It can stand alone, or it can attach to another time marker.
- By this time, the food was cold.
- By this time tomorrow, the results will be ready.
“By The Time” Starts A Clause
By the time needs a full clause after it, usually with a subject and verb.
- By the time we arrived, the show had started.
- By the time she finishes, the office will be closed.
When you’re matching tenses across two actions, a solid refresher is the Purdue OWL page on verb tense consistency, which lists time phrases that cue tense choices.
Punctuation And Placement In A Sentence
Placement changes the rhythm more than the meaning. Most of the time, you’ll see the phrase at the start or the end of the sentence.
At The Start
When it starts the sentence, a comma is common because the phrase sets the scene.
- By this time, the class had settled down.
- By this time next week, we’ll have finished the unit.
At The End
At the end, you usually skip the comma.
- The class had settled down by this time.
- We’ll have finished the unit by this time next week.
In The Middle
In the middle, use commas only if you want a pause.
What “By This Time” Implies In Conversation
The phrase often carries a mood: expectation, routine, or a hint that someone is late.
Expectation Or Mild Pressure
When someone says they thought you’d be done by this time, they’re comparing a plan with the clock. It can sound polite, or it can sound like a nudge.
Routine And Normal Timing
When the sentence describes a habit, it’s less about pressure and more about a timeline that repeats. This is common with “usually” and “normally,” like “By this time, the office is quiet.”
Deadline Without A Strict Time Word
Writers use the phrase to set an informal cutoff without giving a hard hour. “By this time tomorrow” sets a clear window. “By this time” alone can still work when both people share the same clock and situation.
“By This Time Tomorrow” Vs “At This Time Tomorrow”
These two can look close on the page, yet they point to different ideas.
- By this time tomorrow means the action will be finished before that moment arrives.
- At this time tomorrow means the action will be happening at that moment.
Common Errors And Clean Fixes
Most errors come from tense mismatch, missing context, or using the phrase where another time marker fits better.
| What Goes Wrong | Try This Instead | Why It Reads Better |
|---|---|---|
| Using will + base verb for completion | By this time tomorrow, I’ll have finished. | “Will have” plus a past participle shows completion before the checkpoint. |
| Using present tense for a finished past action | By this time, he had left. | Past perfect matches a past story frame. |
| Leaving the reference point unclear | By this time tomorrow, she’ll be on the bus. | Adding “tomorrow” pins down the time. |
| Confusing it with “by the time” | By the time we got there, the shop had closed. | “By the time” needs a clause after it. |
| Overusing “already” in the same line | By this time, the guests had left. | The phrase already carries the “already” idea. |
| Using it when “by now” fits | He should be here by now. | “By now” ties straight to the present moment. |
| Using it when “by then” fits | We arrive at 6; by then, the doors will open. | “By then” refers to a time just mentioned. |
| Pairing it with a nonstop action | By this time, I’d been working for three hours. | Past perfect continuous fits ongoing duration. |
Quick Practice That Builds Speed
Try these in your head, then check the answers. Each one trains a different tense choice.
Rewrite The Sentence
- I will finish the assignment by this time tomorrow.
- By this time, he leaves the office (story set in yesterday).
- We reached the hall. By this time, the lights go out.
Answers
- I’ll have finished the assignment by this time tomorrow.
- By this time, he had left the office.
- We reached the hall. By this time, the lights had gone out.
Using “By This Time” In Formal Writing
The phrase is fine in formal writing when it adds timing precision. It’s common in reports, instructions, and email updates.
In Work Or School Emails
Keep the sentence tight. Name the checkpoint so the reader knows what “this time” refers to.
- By this time tomorrow, I’ll have sent the draft for review.
- By this time on Friday, the lab notes will be uploaded.
In Academic Writing
In essays, it often appears in narrative analysis, timelines, or method write-ups.
- By this time, the author had established the main conflict.
- By this time in the experiment, most samples had cooled.
Fast Drill: Pick The Right Phrase
Choose the option that fits each sentence.
- ________ tomorrow, I’ll have paid the fee. (By this time / At this time)
- ________ tomorrow, I’ll be sitting in the exam hall. (By this time / At this time)
- We arrive at 7. ________, the match will have started. (By then / By now)
- He should be home ________. (By then / By now)
Answers: 1) By this time 2) At this time 3) By then 4) By now.
Checklist For Getting “By This Time” Right
- Decide your reference point: now, a named hour, or a later checkpoint.
- If the action should be complete before that point, reach for a perfect tense.
- If you mean routine or schedule, a simple tense can work.
- Add “tomorrow,” “next week,” or a clock time when the context is not shared.
- Use a comma when the phrase starts the sentence and you want a clean pause.
- When you need a full time clause, switch to “by the time” plus subject and verb.
- Read the line out loud once; if it sounds off, tense is often the culprit.
One last note: if you’re searching for by this time meaning for an exam, aim for a simple definition plus one clean sentence. That’s usually enough to earn the marks.
In daily writing, by this time meaning stays the same: it marks what should already be done before a stated point, so your timing stays clear.