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

And for Mizzou, the timing couldn’t be better. —The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Jan. 2026

Here is a look at storm timing. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 3 Jan. 2026

The photo captures a moment when frozen lagoons, sea ice, and shoreline all coexist in mid-June, a useful context for understanding seasonal ice persistence in a region where timing affects ecosystems, coastal erosion and human activity. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026

To provide the best protection, a number of the shots, including the MMR, need to be spaced out in several doses, a timing determined after decades of research. —Mustafa Fattah, NBC news, 2 Jan. 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