in the nick of time

phrase

informal
: just before the last moment when something can be changed or something bad will happen
He decided to go just in the nick of time.
The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.

Examples of in the nick of time in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once Vega is satisfied and the LASD crew departs, Sugar emerges from his hiding place and revives Ji in the nick of time. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 July 2026

Rhymes for in the nick of time

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Browse Nearby Words

in the next life
in the nick of time
in the not too distant future
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Cite this Entry

“In the nick of time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20nick%20of%20time. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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