[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/timing.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / timing

[← T](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/T/)

# timing

«timing» in Mova's school dictionary: **choosing the right moment to do something** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (timing, uncountable; a timing in technical use); also the -ing form of the verb «time» (time, times, timed, timing)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Timing is choosing the right moment to do something. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#m1)

2) Timing is measuring how long something takes, for example with a stopwatch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#m2)

3) In music, sport and jokes, timing is doing things exactly on the beat or at the best moment. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In science lessons pupils practise timing an experiment, such as how long ice takes to melt, using a stopwatch. In PE, a runner's timing is checked. In everyday life «good timing» means something happened at just the right moment; «bad timing» means the wrong moment. Comedians need good timing. Phrases: «good timing», «perfect timing», «bad timing», «the timing of».

### examples

- You arrived just as dinner was ready — perfect timing! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#x1)
- We were timing how long the candle took to burn down. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#x2)
- Good timing helps you catch a ball. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#x3)
- The joke was funny because of his timing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#x4)
- Asking for a puppy during the argument was bad timing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#x5)
- In the race, Mr Lee was timing us with a stopwatch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#x6)
- The drummer's timing kept the whole band together. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#x7)
- Timing matters when you cross the road at a crossing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#x8)

### note

Mostly uncountable: «good timing», not «a good timing». As a verb form: «I am timing you» (measuring time). In maths problems timing means finding how long something lasts: end time minus start time. Spelling: drop the e of «time» before -ing.

### In the corpora

- [Good secrets are about timing, like a surprise party that ends in a happy moment.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/35-closed-doors-whispers-and-secrets/6/)
- [Most people think jobs are quicker than they really are, so timing them once helps you plan.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/263-clocks-calendars-and-planning/16/)
- [Most people think jobs take less time than they really do; timing a job once shows how long it takes.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/308-coins-pocket-money-saving-and-planning-time/16/)
- [A satnav or phone finds its position by timing radio signals from at least four satellites in orbit.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/geography/1-maps-and-scale/16/)
- [Galileo noticed this watching a swinging lamp in a cathedral, timing it with his pulse.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/physics/10-swings-and-pendulums/7/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «timing» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.