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# timing

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

«timing» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Timing is choosing the right moment to do something. [tree →](https://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://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://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/#m3)

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

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «timing» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/timing/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«timing» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/timing.html) on Mova free.