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

Start small with one section of your house, or set a timer for 15 minutes, then take a break from cleaning. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2025

Set indoor and outdoor lights on timers to simulate an occupied home. —Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 12 Nov. 2025

On TikTok, users are challenging themselves to sit in silence with no external distractions and simply do nothing for a set period of time, complete with a giant timer counting down the minutes. —Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2025

She'll be joined by fellow SNL first-timer Sombr as the musical guest. —Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025

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