reclaim one's time

verb

To assert control over one's allotted time, in order to stop interruptions and regain speaking time during a parliamentary procedure.

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Meanings

verbreclaim one's time (third-person singular simple present reclaims one's time, present participle reclaiming one's time, simple past and past participle reclaimed one's time)

present singular third person reclaims one's time · participle present reclaiming one's time · participle past reclaimed one's time · past reclaimed one's time

  1. USidiomaticgovernmentTo assert control over one's allotted time, in order to stop interruptions and regain speaking time during a parliamentary procedure.
  2. broadlyfigurativelyTo regain control of one's time from distractions, inefficiencies, or the demands of others.

Origin

Popularized during congressional hearings by Congresswoman Maxine Waters in 2017.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

reclaim one's time. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reclaim%20one's%20time

MLA

“reclaim one's time.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reclaim%20one's%20time. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “reclaim one's time,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reclaim%20one's%20time.

Source: reclaim one's time on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.