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 of timer

• 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

Try setting a timer for yourself and seeing how much you can get done in quick bursts (with breaks in between, of course). —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026

When the timer goes off, put down your cleaning tools because your work is done for the day. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026

Setting a 10-minute timer to clear one area can feel more manageable than open-ended cleaning for an entire room. —Julianna Chen, Dallas Morning News, 2 Mar. 2026

About 3800 of them are first-timers. —CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026

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