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

Consumers frequently complained that Alexa had grown outdated while the Echo devices offered little utility beyond setting timers, spouting weather forecasts, playing music and controlling smart home accessories, like turning lights on and off. —Jaures Yip,kif Leswing,annie Palmer,jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 22 Nov. 2025

The next formula As the 2024 Excel championship neared its end, Jarman anxiously watched the countdown timer on a big screen. —Shikhar Sachdev, HubSpot, 21 Nov. 2025

La Fondation, a new 58-room hotel in the 17th arrondissement, isn’t for first-timers. —Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2025

In addition to displaying the wonders of the galaxy at the touch of a finger, this particular projector looks like a tiny astronaut and comes with both a remote control and a sleep timer. —Melissa Locker, Time, 17 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