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

Mash Gang is specifically targeting consumers who alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages depending on the setting, timing, and occasion. —Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026

The decision was made to neutralise GC timings ahead of the final circuit — effectively taking times with 16km remaining — allowing the favourites to drop back before the speed increased further, while also improving safety by reducing the size of the peloton. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 25 May 2026

The timing of the trend is serendipitous for Suno, which is in a legal battle with two of the three major record companies over how their model was trained, and who face distrust from swathes of the music industry. —Nathan Brackett, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026

So, with their regular knack for superb timing, organizers immediately released the dates for the 2027 BottleRock — May 28-30 — and put presale tickets on the market. —Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 25 May 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