# minutes

/ˈmɪnəts/ (US) · /mˈɪnɪts/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/minutes
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. units of time

noun · CEFR A1

more than one minute; units of time that last sixty seconds.

For teachers: the plural form of the unit of time equal to sixty seconds.

- The train should arrive in about ten minutes if there are no delays.
- The presentation lasted exactly forty-five minutes, leaving just enough time for a brief question-and-answer session before the lunch break.

### 2. meeting records

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the official written notes that record what happened during a meeting.

For teachers: the official written record of the proceedings, discussions, and resolutions of a meeting or conference.

- The secretary will send the minutes of the meeting to everyone by email.
- After reviewing the minutes of the previous board meeting, the directors moved to approve the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Usage: Always used in the plural form in this sense.

### 3. to record a meeting

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to write down the official notes during a meeting.

For teachers: to record the proceedings of a meeting in an official capacity.

- She was asked to minute the discussion so there would be a record of the vote.
- The chairman requested that the specific objections raised by the minority shareholders be minuted in full to ensure transparency.

Usage: Transitive verb often used in the passive voice in administrative contexts.

## Examples

- The secretary takes the minutes during the weekly meeting.
- According to the minutes of the last board meeting, the budget for the new project was approved unanimously.
- While the discussion was heated and lasted several hours, the official minutes provided a concise summary of the key arguments and the final vote count.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.