double time

¹ American  

noun

1. U.S. Army. the fastest rate of marching troops, a slow jog in which 180 paces, each of 3 feet (0.9 meters), are taken in a minute.

2. a slow run by troops in step.

3. a rate of overtime pay that is twice the regular wage rate.

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double-time ² American  

[duhb-uhl-tahym] / ˈdʌb əlˌtaɪm /

verb (used with object)

double-timed, double-timing

1. to cause to move in double time.

   Double-time the troops to the mess hall.

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verb (used without object)

double-timed, double-timing

1. to move in double time.

double time British  

noun

1. a doubled wage rate, paid for working on public holidays, etc

2. music

   1. a time twice as fast as an earlier section

   2. two beats per bar

3. a slow running pace, keeping in step

4. army a fast march of 180 paces to the minute

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verb

1. to move or cause to move in double time

Etymology

Origin of double time¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Origin of double-time²

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Cooks in tie-dyed aprons and sky-blue baseball caps move in double time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

“If I need to make something from scratch, I need to work double time before I finish the product,” she explains.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2024

"So all of you people feel underused now, get a good night's sleep, because next year you're going to be working double time," he said.

From Reuters • Nov. 15, 2023

He describes the song as akin to a “slow reggae” with “a double time and a half time all strung together in ballad form, kind of.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2023

The driver’s actually Simon, the boyfriend, earning some double time on Christmas Day.

From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak