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Definition of stopwatch

stopwatch

/ˈstɑːp.wɑːtʃ/
stop · watch
Plural:stopwatches
•
Past Simple:stopwatched
•
Past Participle:stopwatched
•
Present Participle:stopwatching
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stopwatch Lexical Profile

stopwatch Game Scores & Validity

• 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 stopwatch

• Nearby Words

stoppable
stoppage
stopper
stopwatch
storable
storage
store

Word 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 Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/stopwatch
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