stopwatch

noun

stop·​watch ˈstäp-ˌwäch How to pronounce stopwatch (audio)
: a watch with a hand or a digital display that can be started and stopped at will for exact timing (as of a race)

Examples of stopwatch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More than the impressive number on the stopwatch, this highlights the incredible effort made by the whole team – and, of course, Ben’s super driving skills. Trinity Francis, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 Swimming coaches won’t have to rely on stopwatches. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025 The timepiece features a shock-resistant structure, 200-meter water resistance, world time including 48 cities and 31 time zones, a 1/100-second stopwatch, a countdown timer, five daily alarms and a Super Illuminator double LED light. Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 15 May 2025 In a black-and-white Casablanca-esque clip posted Thursday (March 20), a fuzzy string lullaby plays over the sound of seconds ticking by on a stopwatch, which a man holds open on a wooden table. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stopwatch

Word History

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stopwatch was in 1737

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stopwatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stopwatch. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

stopwatch

noun
stop·​watch ˈstäp-ˌwäch How to pronounce stopwatch (audio)
: a watch having a hand or a digital display that can be started and stopped for exact timing (as of a race)

More from Merriam-Webster on stopwatch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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