timescale

noun

time·​scale ˈtīm-ˌskāl 

: an arrangement of events used as a measure of the relative or absolute duration or antiquity of a period of history or geologic or cosmic time

Examples of timescale in a Sentence

When considered on the 4.6 billion year timescale of the Earth, our lives can seem insignificant.

What is the timescale for completion of the work?

Recent Examples on the Web

Knowing when a burst might happen within the larger cycle could give storm warnings on medium timescales—kind of like a heliophysics Farmers’ Almanac for both satellite and tractor operators. —Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 10 Dec. 2025

Unlike supermassive black holes, stellar mass black holes change on human timescales of hours and even minutes. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025

Thus, observations of a flare in different wavelengths can help better understand the mechanisms black holes use to launch flares and the timescales over which these flares evolve. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Nov. 2025

Nobody will hold Gjoshe to his hopeful timescale of playing again within a month. —Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for timescale

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale

Kids Definition

timescale

noun

time·​scale ˈtīm-ˌskāl 

: an arrangement of events used as a measure of the duration or age of a period of history or geologic or cosmic time