timing

noun

tim·​ing ˈtī-miŋ 

1

a

: placement or occurrence in time

the timing of the sale couldn't have been better

b

: the ability to select the precise moment for doing something for optimum effect

a boxer with impeccable timing

2

: observation and recording (as by a stopwatch) of the elapsed time of an act, action, or process

Examples of timing in a Sentence

The timing of the sale could not have been better.

Her timing was a little off and she missed the shot.

an athlete with impeccable timing

Recent Examples on the Web

Storm timing is expected to be in the afternoon to evening, according to the weather service. —Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026

Rolex’s sailing watch is a count-down chronograph with a programmable timing function for the difficult task of nailing the start of a sailing race. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026

Access to capital, talent, data, and infrastructure matters, as do geography, regulation, and timing. —Interesting Engineering, 14 Apr. 2026

The question now is whether the separation and timing hold up every week against NFL corners. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing timing

• timing belt
• timing chain

Rhymes for timing

• chiming
• climbing
• liming
• priming
• rhyming

Kids Definition

timing

noun

tim·​ing

ˈtī-miŋ

1

: selection for best effect of the exact moment for beginning or doing something

2

: observation and recording (as by a stopwatch) of the time taken by something