stopwatch

American  

[stop-woch] / ˈstɒpˌwɒtʃ /

noun

1. a watch with a hand or hands that can be stopped or started at any instant, used for precise timing, as in races.

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stopwatch British  

/ ˈstɒpˌwɒtʃ /

noun

1. a type of watch used for timing events, such as sporting events, accurately, having a device for stopping the hand or hands instantly

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Etymology

Origin of stopwatch

First recorded in 1730–40; stop + watch

Example Sentences

The persistent, rhythmic ticking of the “60 Minutes” stopwatch is like the heartbeat of American investigative journalism.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2026

Gallagher believes fans will have the "stopwatch" out to see how quickly Joshua finishes it, though he still predicts a clinical end.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

He urged factory managers to break down each task into its smallest motions, measure these with a stopwatch and then determine the “one best way” to perform the work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

If you could tear your eyes away from the screen enough to check a stopwatch, not one minute goes by without a flourish that’s either funny, ridiculous, stunning or emotional.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2024

In the meantime, he resolved to keep the time on his stopwatch to himself.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Related Words

• timepiece
• wristwatch