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

Scroll down to create favorite settings, create schedules, and set timers. — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026

In the kitchen, HomeView turns recipes into step-by-step instructions with hands-free timers. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026

And even after hiring a first-timer, few boards fully trust them right away. — Mary Elizabeth Bradford, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Burberry’s Daniel Lee and Victoria Beckham have landed in the top 10 before, but Jil Sander’s Simone Bellotti is a first-timer. — Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 9 Oct. 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