make up for lost time

verb

To do something (especially with energy or enthusiasm) that should have been done earlier but was not.

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Meanings

verbmake up for lost time (third-person singular simple present makes up for lost time, present participle making up for lost time, simple past and past participle made up for lost time)

present singular third person makes up for lost time · participle present making up for lost time · participle past made up for lost time · past made up for lost time

  1. To do something (especially with energy or enthusiasm) that should have been done earlier but was not.

Origin

From make up for and lose time.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech dohnat ztracený čas
  • dohnat ztracený časTranslations
Finnish korvata menetetty aika
  • korvata menetetty aikaTranslations
French rattraper le temps perdu
  • rattraper le temps perduTranslations
Greek αναπληρώνω το χαμένο καιρό
  • αναπληρώνω το χαμένο καιρό (anapliróno to chaméno kairó)Translations
Polish nadrabiać stracony czas, nadrobić stracony czas
  • nadrabiać stracony czasTranslations
  • nadrobić stracony czasTranslations
Russian навёрстывать поте́рянное вре́мя, наверста́ть поте́рянное вре́мя
  • навёрстывать поте́рянное вре́мя (navjórstyvatʹ potérjannoje vrémja)Translations
  • наверста́ть поте́рянное вре́мя (naverstátʹ potérjannoje vrémja)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

make up for lost time. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20up%20for%20lost%20time

MLA

“make up for lost time.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20up%20for%20lost%20time. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “make up for lost time,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20up%20for%20lost%20time.

Source: make up for lost time on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.