timer

noun

tim·​er ˈtī-mər 

: one that times: such as

a

: timepiece

especially : a stopwatch for timing races

b

: timekeeper

c

: a device (such as a clock) that indicates by a sound the end of an interval of time or that starts or stops a device at predetermined times

Synonyms of timer

• clock

Examples of timer in a Sentence

He was the official timer for the race.

She set the timer on the oven for one hour.

The timer is set to go off in 15 minutes.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Eastern Sierra resort rises to 11,053 feet, making Mammoth California’s highest ski-resort summit, and its 3,500 acres mean there’s plenty of mountain for first-timers finding their turns and seasoned skiers hunting for steeper lines. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

There are many ways to make the candy, but this method doesn’t require a thermometer or timer. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

The auction felt like a high-energy concert crossed with a thriller, as bidders from 34 countries, most of them first-timers at Christie’s, kept the numbers climbing and the lots on the block far longer than expected. — Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 5 Oct. 2026

Pakistan, which went with five specialized bowlers plus Ayub’s offspin, surprisingly went with the option of part-timer Saad Masood in the second over that allowed Sharma to break free by smacking three sixes and a boundary in the 24-run over. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing timer

• all-timer
• egg timer
• full-timer
• old-timer
• one-timer

Rhymes for timer

• climber
• dimer
• eimer
• primer
• rhymer
• alzheimer
• heterodimer

Kids Definition

timer

noun

tim·​er ˈtī-mər 

1

a

: timepiece

b

: timekeeper sense 2

2

: a clocklike device that turns something on or off at a set time or gives a signal at the end of a period of time