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

Crystal Balint now has four under her belt (Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club, The Fall of the House of Usher), while Matthew Lillard (The Life of Chuck) and Katee Sackoff (Oculus) are now in the two-timer’s club. — Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

Here, misfits are welcome, and bric-a-brac is part of the appeal; the wonderfully bizarre name and devil-may-care attitude have been confusing (and delighting) first-timers for more than 70 years. — Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2026

Old timers would recount finding a water moccasin in their boat. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

The long-timers met with Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, toured the HQ, were honored at a company-wide town hall and made time to talk with the news media. — Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 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