timer

noun

tim·​er ˈtī-mər 

: one that times: such as

a

: timepiece

especially : a stopwatch for timing races

b

: timekeeper

c

: a device (such as a clock) that indicates by a sound the end of an interval of time or that starts or stops a device at predetermined times

Synonyms

• chronometer
• clock
• timekeeper
• timepiece

Examples of timer in a Sentence

He was the official timer for the race.

She set the timer on the oven for one hour.

The timer is set to go off in 15 minutes.

Recent Examples on the Web

This Candle Warmer Lamp has an adjustable height for different candles, can be set to a timer, and even has a dimmer. —Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2024

Intuitive presets Integrated timer Double-sided scraper leaves no dough behind What Could Be Better Lacks an accessory port This stand mixer rated highest across all of our tests. —Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 17 June 2024

In addition to the number of first timers winning awards Sunday, this Tony Awards was also notable for the number of female directors who were nominated, with four in the category of best direction of a musical, including winner Danya Taymor, which has typically been dominated by men. —Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 June 2024

Voice assistants hold so much promise, but in the decade-plus since Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa first wormed their ways into our lives, their most compelling use is still setting timers. —Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 14 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing timer

• all-timer
• egg timer
• full-timer
• old-timer
• one-timer

Kids Definition

timer

noun

tim·​er ˈtī-mər 

1

a

: timepiece

b

: timekeeper sense 2

2

: a clocklike device that turns something on or off at a set time or gives a signal at the end of a period of time