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.
Despite the blackout on the missile’s details, the product appears designed to overcome the Pacific “tyranny of distance,” in part by exploiting the speedy hypersonic response time.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
According to data recently released by the city in a public records request, the average response time for the department for a Priority 2 was more than two hours as recently as March.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
The Scottish Ambulance Service records the median weekly response time by a prioritised colour-coded system.
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
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.
