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

That timing is good this month for North America, with the moon rising a few minutes after sunset. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025

Such a system could coordinate multimodal logistics (think planes, trains and automobiles) with timing that no human team could match. —Harry Law, Time, 5 June 2025

EyeEm Mobile GmbH/Getty The timing was significant for local residents and infrastructure, as Las Vegas and neighboring communities are unaccustomed to widespread rainfall outside of the annual monsoon season, which generally begins later in the summer. —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025

But that timing could create legal roadblocks, according to Pardo, because the term limits proposal would be on the same ballot as candidates who would be affected by it. —Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025

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