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Definition of stopwatch
stopwatch
/ˈstɑːp.wɑːtʃ/
stop · watch
Plural:stopwatches
•Past Simple:stopwatched
•Past Participle:stopwatched
•Present Participle:stopwatching
stopwatch Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
stopwatch Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A handheld timepiece designed to measure the amount of time that elapses between its activation and deactivation.
Example
"The swimming coach clicked his stopwatch the moment the athlete touched the pool wall."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for stopwatch• verb
1
To measure or record the duration of an event or action using a stopwatch.
Example
"The researchers stopwatched the rats as they navigated the maze to ensure accurate data collection."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for stopwatchWord Origin & Etymology
Formed in the mid-19th century by combining 'stop' and 'watch', originally referring to a pocket watch with a mechanism that allowed the seconds hand to be stopped for precise timing.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Stopwatch. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/stopwatch