An Encylopedia Britannica Company

August 06, 2020 Word of the Day

time-out /ˈtaɪmˈaʊt/ noun
time-out
/ˈtaɪmˈaʊt/
noun

plural time–outs

This gesture means “time-out.”
This gesture means “time-out.”
Definition of TIME-OUT

1 : a short period of time during a sports event when the game stops and the players rest or talk to their coach

[count]

  • The coach asked for a time-out to talk to her players.

  • The coach called a time-out.

[noncount]

  • The quarterback called time-out [=asked for a time-out] with 20 seconds remaining.

2 : a short period of time when you stop doing something so that you can rest or do something else

[count]

  • We've been working all morning. Let's take a time-out and get some coffee.

[noncount]

  • Let's take time-out for a few minutes.

3 US : a short period of time when a child must sit quietly as punishment for behaving badly

[count]

  • The book talks about the proper way to use time-outs.

  • If you do that again, you're getting a time-out! = If you do that again, I'm giving you a time-out!

[noncount]

  • There's no talking during time-out.

More Words of the Day