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 meant Mitoma had only Maguire to bypass when squaring for Yankuba Minteh after sprinting clear. —Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025

The timing of the filing may be significant—an attempt to gain a tactical advantage over China ahead of the upcoming meeting between the leaders—the first in-person sit-down since 2019. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 Oct. 2025

Uncertainty over the timing, pace, funding and size of such policies is likely to keep economists and investors concerned over the government’s ability to rebalance an economy in which household consumption lags global averages by about 20 percentage points of GDP. —Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025

The timing could hardly be worse. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 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