Showing results for "timing"

• present participle of time.

timing

American  

[tahy-ming] / ˈtaɪ mɪŋ /

noun

• timings
  plural

1. Theater.

   1. a synchronizing of the various parts of a production for theatrical effect.

   2. the result or effect thus achieved.

   3. (in acting) the act of adjusting one's tempo of speaking and moving for dramatic effect.

2. Sports. the control of the speed of a stroke, blow, etc., in order that it may reach its maximum at the proper moment.

3. the selecting of the best time or speed for doing something in order to achieve the desired or maximum result.

   I went to ask for a raise, but my timing was bad, since the boss had indigestion.

4. an act or instance of observing and recording the elapsed time of an act, contest, process, etc.

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timing British  

/ ˈtaɪmɪŋ /

noun

1. the process or art of regulating actions or remarks in relation to others to produce the best effect, as in music, the theatre, sport, etc

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Usage

What does timing mean? Timing often means the selection of the exact time or speed at which to do something in order to get the desired or best result. One of the meanings of time as a verb is to choose the moment or occasion to do something, as in She timed that pass perfectly. Timing is the noun form of this. Timing is especially relevant in activities like sports and acting. In sports, timing involves actions like moving oneself or the ball at the right moment to gain an advantage or to score. In acting, timing involves choosing when to say a line or the speed at which to say it. Good comedic timing makes things funnier. In general, timing often involves when we choose to do something. Sometimes, though, the timing of something isn’t decided by choice. For example, when an event outside of anyone’s control simply happens at the wrong time, we describe it as bad timing. When a fortunate event happens at the right time, we call it good timing. Another use of the word timing refers to the recording or observation of how long it takes something to be done, especially some kind of contest, as in The official timekeeper is responsible for the timing of the race. Example: My package of replacements arrived right before I ran out of them—it was perfect timing!

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• timings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of timing

1200–50; 1590–1600 timing for def. 4; Middle English: hap, occurrence; see time, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

timing timings

A spokesman for Faculty declined to comment when asked about timing.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Asked about the timing Friday, Trump said it was “really just cumulative stories over the past few years.”

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

That’s asking a lot, however, since my auditing firm’s tracking of market-timing newsletters finds that successful market timing is no easier with bonds than it is with stocks.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

Reckitt has been investing in the U.S. to get new products to customers faster and meet fluctuating drug demand as the timing of each year’s cold and flu season shifts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Washington’s triumph was due in part to timing.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

In Guernsey and Jersey, those timings will be about 18:21, 19:17 and 20:10.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

The event will begin at approximately 18:10 BST, although timings will vary depending on location.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

The SSA currently does not provide the same detailed, real-time metrics as it did in the past, providing only snapshots of its performance instead of running updated tabulations of caseloads, timings and backlogs, analysts said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

They "do not offer sufficient information regarding key aspects such as timings and safe routes", said Jakob Larsen, chief security officer at the shipping lobby BIMCO.

From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026

“But you know as well as I do timings the reason you’ve been finding the sweet spot all year.”

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner