split-second 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsplit-ˈse-kənd How to pronounce split-second (audio)
Definition of split-secondnext
as in instantaneous
done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time a day trader who is used to making split-second decisions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

split second

2 of 2

noun

as in minute
a very small space of time a devastating accident can cause everything in your life to change in a split second

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of split-second
Adjective
Ward acknowledges the volatile nature of the job and the need to make split-second decisions. — CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026 The reminders come during back-to-school week every year, but the hair-raising video showed how a split-second decision could be the difference between life and death. — Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
Clutching an aerial hoop on a Johannesburg circus stage, a young performer pauses for a split second before launching into the air and gliding, drawing cheers from the crowd below. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 In the days leading up to Saturday’s game against the Saints, Bennett and Simpson split second-team reps during the teams’ joint practice. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for split-second
Recent Examples of Synonyms for split-second
  1. instantaneous
  2. minute
  3. immediate
  4. second
  5. instant
  6. moment
  7. heartbeat
Adjective
  • This configuration feeds real-time grip, yaw and velocity data into a central computer, executing independent, instantaneous torque vectoring across the rear wheels.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Majidi’s victory on Thursday night also gives Midday Meal an instantaneous jolt of Oscars buzz.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of instantaneous
Noun
  • The full, 45-minute set is available now to UK viewers on BBC iPlayer.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • And the Current put the ball in the net twice in the five minutes before Hopkins’ second, only to be called for offside each time.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of minute
Adjective
  • Its biotechnology could now serve a more immediate military application.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Times reached out to Script botanicals for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of immediate
Noun
  • Charlotte saw a 23-point deficit with 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter disappear midway through the fourth after Miami went on a 27-4 run to even it up at 100 apiece.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • In tests by cybersecurity firm McAfee, a three-second clip was enough to generate a clone with an 85% match to the original speaker.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of second
Adjective
  • This is not nostalgia but a signal that in a world of instant everything, doing something slowly and well has become its own form of rebellion, and its own form of value.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The tablet takes a good 20 to 30 seconds to boot up from that state, which is a nuisance compared with the instant wake-up from sleep mode.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of instant
Noun
  • Data centers will not follow aviation’s path exactly, but the shape of this moment is familiar.
    — Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Royals played 12 World Series games and had a number of memorable Fall Classic moments from Eric Hosmer’s mad dash to Yordano Ventura’s dominant start in an elimination game to Alex Gordon’s game-tying home run.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of moment
Noun
  • Savannah also shares a bracelet that has their three children’s heartbeats on it, along with LeBron’s initials on the clasp.
    — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Mahomes, though, is the heartbeat of a team that just a year ago was left for dead on this very field.
    — Sam McDowell October 19, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of heartbeat

Browse Nearby Words

splits
split-second
split second
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Split-second.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/split-second. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All