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

Adjustable timer from 1-35 minutes, non-slip platform with stable base and easy-to-use remote control. —ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026

Standing alone in a Swedish laundromat, Alfie Whiteman set a 10-second timer on his camera and pondered what to do next. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026

Club Pilates, Pure Barre, and Core Power all offer some free classes for first-timers. —The Editors, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026

With electric diffusers, setting a timer for a few hours daily to disperse the scent is a quick solution, especially when combined with DIY deodorizers. —Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 Apr. 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