split-sec·ond
ˈsplit-ˈse-kənd 
1
: occurring in a split second
a split-second decision
2
: extremely precise
split-second timing
Examples of split-second in a Sentence
Adjective
a day trader who is used to making split-second decisions
Noun
In a split second, it was all over.
a devastating accident can cause everything in your life to change in a split second
Recent Examples on the Web
Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
Like navigating the split-second decision between shooting or passing, or even holding onto the puck that extra half-second to decide.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
According to the company, the M1 robot produces more than 10 kilowatts of power in one burst, equivalent to giving a human-sized machine the power of a motorcycle engine for a split second.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for split-second
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Adjective
San Diego is poised to pay $30 million to the family of a teenager who was fatally shot by a San Diego police officer in a split-second encounter outside Santa Fe Depot earlier this year.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
Like navigating the split-second decision between shooting or passing, or even holding onto the puck that extra half-second to decide.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Noun
That’s roughly equal to about 887 kilograms of force (around 1,956 pounds of force), almost like having the weight of a small car slam into something in a split second.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
According to the company, the M1 robot produces more than 10 kilowatts of power in one burst, equivalent to giving a human-sized machine the power of a motorcycle engine for a split second.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for split-second
Cite this Entry
“Split-second.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/split-second. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.
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