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

• clock

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

Key features: Surprisingly good Bluetooth speaker, bright lights, sleep timer, customizable, rotation, decent projection surface, Prime Day deal. —Alexander Cox, Space.com, 11 July 2025

Using your washer’s delay timer and keeping a consistent routine—while giving yourself grace on busy days—makes staying on top of laundry feel more doable. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 July 2025

Set a timer for 20 minutes and treat commenting like a focused work session. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

So why, oh why, does the season end with the timer going off and no actual answer to whether or not Syd (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Natalie (Abby Elliott) have a restaurant to co-own or not? —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 1 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing timer

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

Rhymes for timer

• climber
• dimer
• eimer
• primer
• rhymer
• alzheimer
• heterodimer

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