timetable

American  

[tahym-tey-buhl] / ˈtaɪmˌteɪ bəl /

noun

1. a schedule showing the times at which railroad trains, airplanes, etc., arrive and depart.

2. any schedule or plan designating the times at or within which certain things occur or are scheduled to occur.

   a timetable of coming musical events; a timetable of space research.

3. British.

   1. a university or college catalog listing all classes taught during a school semester, along with the time that each class is held, the instructor's name, etc.

   2. a student's class schedule or course of study during a school semester.

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timetable British  

/ ˈtaɪmˌteɪbəl /

noun

1. a list or table of events arranged according to the time when they take place; schedule

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verb

1. (tr) to include in or arrange according to a timetable

2. (intr) to draw up a timetable

Etymology

Origin of timetable

First recorded in 1830–40; time + table

Explanation

A timetable is a list or chart of the exact times buses, trains, or other modes of transportation are scheduled to arrive and depart. If you travel around Europe, you'll need a train timetable. In the U.K., a class schedule is sometimes called a timetable, while in North America it usually refers to a transportation schedule. You can find most timetables online, or you can carry one with you when you're in an unfamiliar city. Timetables tend to change over time, as new routes are added or exact departure times are adjusted.

Example Sentences

In another exchange, Tsurui expressed frustration with a colleague who had offered what he thought was an overly optimistic timetable for installing new plate readers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

The same compressed timetable governs almost everything in Banda.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

But East Midlands Railway said engineering work at various points on the Midland Main Line means there will be a reduced timetable and replacement bus services while the festival is on.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

Venezuela didn’t provide a timetable for discussions or detail the terms it plans to propose to creditors.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Chastened by criticism of the stupefying length of October’s Dedication Day ceremony, the fair’s officers had kept the Opening Day program short and pledged to honor the timetable at all costs.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• agenda
• calendar
• itinerary
• plan
• program