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Business English Transition Words and Phrases for Talking About Time
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
In this article: Quick guide
In this article, you’ll learn natural Business English phrases for talking about time, progress, and change at work. These include phrases like at the outset, so far, at this point, in the meantime, eventually, and in the long run.
They are useful when you want to explain what happened at the beginning, what has happened up to now, what is happening right now, or what may matter later.
For more phrases you can use when you need to explain your point in a meeting, read Business English Phrases for Meetings: How to Explain Your Point Clearly.
Quick Guide: Business English Transition Words and Phrases for Talking About Time
Use these phrases to talk about when something happens, how a situation changes, where things stand now, and what happens later.
Phrase | Meaning |
by the time | before a certain time or event |
as soon as | immediately after something happens |
at the outset | at the beginning of a project, process, or discussion |
at first | in the beginning, before something changed |
initially | at the beginning |
early on | near the beginning of a process or situation |
gradually | slowly, in small steps |
over time | as weeks, months, or years pass |
along the way | during a process or experience |
at this stage | at this point in the process |
at this point | now, considering the current situation |
so far | until now |
eventually | after some time |
ultimately | in the end |
in the long run | after a long time, when you think about the future result |
looking back | thinking about a past situation now |
in hindsight | understanding a past situation better now |
Below, you’ll see how these phrases work in real workplace sentences and short business situations.
Workplace Scenario and Quiz: Talking About Time at Work
Read the situation below.
Smoothie Shops
You work for a small company that owns five smoothie shops in Chicago.
Your company hired a software team to set up online ordering for all five locations.
A sixth shop is opening in Lincoln Park in July.
Now two managers want to add delivery tracking and a rewards program, but you think it’s a bad idea because the company also has to get the new shop ready.
In the meeting, you say:
_____, we agreed to keep the project small because with Lincoln Park opening in July, we don’t have the time or budget for extra features right now.
A) By the time
B) As soon as
C) In the long run
D) At the outset
Do you know how to remind people what was agreed at the beginning of the project? Choose the best answer. Then listen to the sentence.
Using Business English Naturally at Work
Many learners understand a phrase when they read it, but the harder part is using it naturally in a real conversation at work.
That’s what you practice in Pro Vocabulary Lab.
Inside each Pro Vocabulary Lab, you’ll work with:
realistic workplace situations
short dialogues based on real work conversations
speaking practice with natural Business English
Ready to sound more natural in real work conversations?
At the Outset vs. In the Long Run: What’s the Difference?
Let's break down the quiz options.
by the time
phrase
before or not later than the time when another thing happens.
By the time we noticed the mistake, the email had already gone out.
The room may be booked by the time we call tomorrow.
By the time Rachel called back, the customer had already chosen another supplier.
as soon as
conjunction
immediately when something happens
Please call me as soon as you hear from Amanda.
As soon as the guest arrives, send the form to the front desk.
We can print the badges as soon as Alex approves the spelling.
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in the long run
idiom
after a long period of time in the future
The cheaper software looks fine now, but it may cost more in the long run.
Training Nina properly will take a few extra days, but it will help the whole team in the long run.
This system is annoying at first, but in the long run, it should save us time.
at the outset
phrase
at the beginning of something
At the outset, we agreed to keep the project small.
The problem seemed simple at the outset, but it became more complicated later.
We should be clear at the outset about what the price includes.
That's right! The correct answer is D) At the outset.
More Business English Phrases for Talking About Time
Now let’s look at more phrases for talking about time, progress, and change at work.
Transition Words for the Beginning of a Process
at first
phrase
at the beginning of a situation, before something changes
At first, the new schedule seemed fine, but after two weeks, the team started missing calls.
I didn’t like the new reporting system at first. Now I can see why it helps.
At first, Amanda thought the client only wanted a small change. Then the request turned into a much bigger job.
initially
adverb
at the beginning, before the situation changed
Initially, we planned to send the offer on Friday, but the client asked for more details.
The price looked reasonable initially, but the extra fees made it too expensive.
Nina was nervous initially, so we gave her a few smaller tasks before putting her at the front desk.
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at the outset
phrase
at the beginning of an event, process, project, or discussion
At the outset, we agreed that the price would not include weekend support.
She made it clear at the outset that the team could not take on extra work.
At the outset of the project, everyone agreed on a simple design.
early on
phrase
at an early stage of a situation or process
We realized early on that the Friday deadline wasn’t realistic.
Early on, only two people used the new system. By the end of the month, almost everyone was using it.
The manager caught the mistake early on, before the order went out.
What does "In the long run, it'll save us time" mean?
Answer
What does "In the long run, it'll save us time" mean?
A) We have more time now
B) It can wait until later
C) It'll take less time later
D) It needs to be done today
The correct answer is C.
Review the meaning here.
Transition Words for Showing Change Over Time
gradually
adverb
in small steps, not suddenly
Sales were low at first, but they gradually improved during the summer.
The team gradually got used to the new schedule.
We didn’t change everything at once. We gradually moved more work online.
over time
phrase
as time passes
Over time, the new system should reduce the number of mistakes.
The first version wasn’t perfect, but over time, the product became much easier to use.
Customer complaints went down over time.
along the way
idiom
during the process of doing, building, or experiencing something
The project took longer than expected, and we had to fix several problems along the way.
She started as a receptionist and learned a lot along the way.
We made a few changes along the way, but the main plan stayed the same.
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Transition Words for Talking About the Current Situation
at this stage
phrase
at this point in a process or situation
At this stage, we only need a simple answer from them.
I wouldn’t change the whole plan at this stage. Let’s see what they say first.
At this stage, we don’t have enough information to make a final decision.
at this point
phrase
now, after what has already happened
At this point, we’re still waiting for Rachel’s answer.
I don’t think calling again will help at this point.
At this point, the best thing we can do is send a short reminder.
We can’t make any promises at this point.
so far
phrase
until now
So far, no one has complained about the new schedule.
The feedback has been good so far.
So far, we’ve only heard from two people.
I’ve checked the first ten orders, and everything looks fine so far.
Transition Words for What Happens Later
eventually
adverb
after some time
We may not hear back today, but they’ll eventually reply.
At first, the new system was confusing, but people eventually got used to it.
If we keep calling the wrong number, someone will eventually complain.
She didn’t answer right away, but eventually she sent the form back.
What does "So far, the feedback has been good" mean?
Answer
What does "So far, the feedback has been good" mean?
A) The feedback came too late
B) Until now, people have liked it C) The final result is clear
D) People did not like it
The correct answer is B.
Review the meaning here.
ultimately
adverb
in the end
Ultimately, it’s Amanda’s decision. We can give her the facts, but she has to choose.
The price matters, but ultimately we need a service that actually works.
I understand both sides, but ultimately we have to protect the company.
Ultimately, the manager is responsible for what goes out to customers.
in the long run
idiom
after a long period of time
It takes longer to check the list now, but in the long run, it prevents bigger mistakes.
The paper forms are easier today, but in the long run, the app will save time.
Hiring someone part-time may cost more now, but it could help us in the long run.
I know training takes time, but it makes the team stronger in the long run.
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Transition Words for Looking Back at What Happened
looking back
phrase
thinking about something that happened before
Looking back, we should have called them sooner.
Looking back, I think we tried to do too much in one week.
Looking back, the first warning sign was the number of complaints we got that Monday.
I don’t blame anyone, but looking back, we should have checked the numbers one more time.
in hindsight
phrase
looking back at a past situation with a better understanding of it now
The plan looked fine, but in hindsight, we didn’t leave enough time for questions.
In hindsight, it would have been better to call her instead of sending another message.
I understand why we made that choice, but in hindsight, it wasn’t the best move.
What does "Ultimately, it's her decision" mean?
Answer
What does "Ultimately, it's her decision" mean?
A) She already said no
B) She makes the final decision
C) She needs more information
D) Someone else will decide
The correct answer is B.
Review the meaning here.
Try a Quick Workplace Quiz
Choose the phrase that sounds most natural in this workplace situation. Then listen and repeat the full sentence.
Listen to the correct answer and repeat it out loud.
Now try a similar situation:
You manage a customer service team. An order hasn’t shipped yet, but a customer wants it by Thursday at 3 p.m. Your employee asks: Should I tell them Thursday at 3 p.m.?
What would you say to the employee?
Try to use: At this stage.
Sample answer
At this stage, I wouldn’t promise Thursday at 3 p.m. The order hasn’t even shipped yet.
Want to practice this in a real workplace conversation?
In Pro Vocabulary Lab, you don’t just memorize phrases. You practice how people actually use them in short workplace situations, dialogues, and spoken answers.
You’ll get the full quiz, audio recordings, model answers, and extra speaking practice for situations like this.
Practice the Phrases in a Workplace Situation
Use the phrases from this article to respond to a realistic workplace question. Read the scenario and think about what you would say.
Customer Emails
Your company is testing an AI tool that writes replies to customer emails.
It saves time, but it still makes too many mistakes.
For example, it has told customers their package had shipped when it hadn’t.
Your manager asks: Should we let it answer simple messages on its own?
What would you say?
Try to use one or two phrases from this article, such as at this stage, at this point, so far, ultimately, or in the long run.
Want more practice with this workplace scenario?
Continue this practice in Pro Vocabulary Lab.
Inside the lab, you’ll get the PDF worksheet, the full workplace dialogue, audio recordings, a model answer, and extra practice with the phrases from this article.
Erin West is a Business English coach, writer, and founder of RealBusinessEnglish.com. She creates practical lessons, quizzes, and workplace scenarios for English learners who want to sound more natural at work. Her lessons include real workplace phrases and everyday business situations, so learners can practice English they can actually use.
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