minute

1 of 4

noun (1)

min·​ute ˈmi-nət 

1

a

: the 60th part of an hour of time : 60 seconds

b

: the 60th part of a degree of angular measure

Its latitude is 41 degrees 55 minutes north.

2

: the distance one can traverse in a minute

Five minutes down the road is a gas station.

3

: a short space of time : moment

I saw them a minute ago.

Dinner will be ready in a minute. [=very soon]

The ambulance arrived within minutes.

4

a

: a brief note (as of summary or recommendation)

He received a minute of instructions.

b

: memorandum, draft

sent the president a minute explaining the problem

c

minutes plural : the official record of the proceedings of a meeting

The secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting.

see also:

any minute from minute to minute not for a minute this minute to the minute

minute

2 of 4

adjective

mi·​nute mī-ˈnüt 

mə-, 

-ˈnyüt

minuter; minutest

1

: very small : infinitesimal

2

: of small importance : trifling

3

: marked by close attention to details

minuteness noun

minute

3 of 4

verb

min·​ute ˈmi-nət 

minuted; minuting

transitive verb

: to make notes or a brief summary of

minuteness

4 of 4

noun (2)

mi·​nute·​ness

pronunciation at 3minute +nə̇s

plural -es

: the quality or state of being minute:

a

: attention to or extreme precision in small details

that he would peruse with minuteness and attention

—F. M. Ford

b

: extreme smallness (as in size or degree)

the minuteness of the parts formed a great hindrance to my speed

—Mary W. Shelley

Phrases

the minute

: as soon as

Please text me the minute you get home.

Synonyms of minute

Noun (1)

• second
• moment
• heartbeat

Adjective

• detailed
• full
• thorough

Choose the Right Synonym for minute

small, little, diminutive, minute, tiny, miniature mean noticeably below average in size.

small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

circumstantial, minute, particular, detailed mean dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point.

circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space.

a circumstantial account of our visit

minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details.

a minute examination of a fossil

particular implies a precise attention to every detail.

a particular description of the scene of the crime

detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail.

a detailed analysis of the event

Examples of minute in a Sentence

Noun (1)

Bake the cake for 25–30 minutes.

We waited for several minutes, but no one came to the door.

I saw him a minute ago.

Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes.

One minute it was sunny, the next it was pouring rain.

My house is just a few minutes from here.

The secretary read the minutes of the last meeting.

Adjective

There were minute particles of dust in the air.

The test detected minute amounts of contamination.

The equipment is able to detect the minutest errors.

She told him what happened in minute detail.

a minute examination of the evidence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Vegas pulled Carter Hart with about three minutes to go, officially entering desperation mode, but nothing worked, and Nikolaj Ehlers scored an empty-netter to start the party. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026

The administration filed a last-minute request to stay the judge's injunction pending their appeal, but it was ultimately rejected. —Emma Nicholson, CBS News, 15 June 2026

Adjective

In a sea of important tourbillons at Watches and Wonders this year, minute repeaters and striking watches made a musical statement of their own. —Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026

According to the National Park Service, about 80 percent of visitors to Yosemite never venture beyond Yosemite Valley, which makes up a minute percentage of this 1,190-square-mile park. —Matt Bell, AFAR Media, 19 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin minuta, from Latin minutus small, from past participle of minuere to lessen — more at minor

Adjective

Latin minutus

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing minute

• a laugh a minute
• a mile a minute
• any minute
• arc minute
• at a moment's/minute's notice
• (at) any minute (now)
• from minute to minute
• from one minute to the next
• half a minute/second
• have a minute/moment/second
• hold/hang on a minute
• in a New York minute
• just a minute/second/moment
• just this minute/second
• last minute
• minute by minute
• minute hand
• minute steak
• New York minute
• not for a minute
• not for a/one minute
• not for one minute
• on a moment's/minute's notice
• sidereal minute
• the last minute
• the minute
• there's a sucker born every minute
• there's one born every minute
• this minute
• to the minute
• up-to-the-minute
• wait a minute/moment/second
• wait/just a minute

Rhymes for minute

• linnet
• pinnate
• pinot

Kids Definition

minute

1 of 2 noun

min·​ute ˈmin-ət 

1

a

: the 60th part of an hour of time

b

: the 60th part of a degree of angular measure

2

: the distance one can cover in a minute

3

: moment sense 1

4

plural : a brief record of what went on in a meeting

minute

2 of 2 adjective

mi·​nute

mī-ˈn(y)üt, 

mə-

1

: very small : tiny

2

: of small importance : petty

3

: marked by close attention to details

minutely adverb

minuteness noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English minute "1/60 part of an hour," from early French minute (same meaning), from Latin minuta (same meaning), from minutus "small" — related to menu see Word History at menu

Medical Definition

minute

noun

min·​ute ˈmin-ət 

: a 60th part of an hour of time or of a degree

Legal Definition

minute

noun

min·​ute ˈmi-nət 

1

: a brief note (as of summary or recommendation)

2

: memorandum sense 1

3

plural : the official record of the proceedings of a meeting or court