timer

noun

tim·​er ˈtī-mər How to pronounce timer (audio)
Synonyms of timernext
: 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

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At the grocery store, Jamie Corum sets a two-minute timer for her 10-year-old daughter to look around. — ABC News, 30 June 2026 To keep up with the fast-moving aerial acts, the app features an adjustable countdown timer set to the official schedule. — Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 Let’s travel path two and figure out how this career part timer doesn’t have to put the rest of their life on hold while the dream career is still TBD. — Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 Choosing seats and venues that work for kids Smaller venues and outdoor amphitheaters are often easier for a first-timer than a packed stadium. — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for timer

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of timer was in 1648

Phrases Containing timer

Rhymes for timer

See All Rhymes for timer

Browse Nearby Words

timepleaser
timer
time rating
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Timer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/timer. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

timer

noun
tim·​er ˈtī-mər How to pronounce timer (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on timer

Nglish: Translation of timer for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All