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

The timing could not be worse for the Communist-run island, which just last month suffered another total collapse of its national electric grid, leaving the country without power for several days. —Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

While the city denies its legal challenge has anything to do with how Donald Trump fundamentally shifted this court during his presidency, the timing speaks for itself. —Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

The timing reportedly coincided with Prince Harry's trip to the U.K. in May for the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games. —Janine Henni, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

My timing was quite fortuitous because just a few months later Covid happened and the pandemic, of course, forced everyone to slow down their operations. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing timing

• timing belt
• timing chain

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