English Grammar - Usage

On time and In time - Differences in meaning

On time means ‘at the planned time’. If you are ‘on time’, you are neither late nor early. The opposite is early or late.

• The train arrived on time. (It was neither early nor late.)
• We want the meeting to start exactly on time.

In time means ‘before the last moment’. The opposite is ‘too late’.

• We arrived there in time.
• He would have died if they hadn’t got him to hospital in time.

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