response time
Americannoun
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Psychology. the time consumed in making a response.
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Computers. the time that elapses while waiting for a computer to respond to a command.
noun
Etymology
Origin of response time
First recorded in 1955–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The speed with which that data moves between processors and memory chips governs the latency, or response time, for a query.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Differences in the way figures are counted and factors like the age and health of the population, as well as nations' geography, play a part in the average response time of an ambulance.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
"Our approach cleverly integrates near-perfect absorbers and super-thin pyroelectrics to achieve a response time of 125 picoseconds, which is a huge improvement for the field."
From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026
He added that state and local police have improved their response time to removing protest barricades and driving away protesters trying to disrupt DHS operations.
From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026
Rapidity In a technology sense, rapidity includes the speed of operational planning, determining appropriate action, deployment, and employment all focused toward minimizing response time.
From Shock and Awe — Achieving Rapid Dominance by Wade, James P.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
