English Reference

Word

secs

Phoneticssecs

UK/sˈɛks/

Definition

n. a short way of saying 'seconds' when talking about time. You use this when you want someone to wait for a very short moment.

n. a colloquial clipping of 'seconds', referring to units of time or a brief interval. Typically used in the plural to indicate a short wait.

Examples

“I will be ready in just a few secs.”

“Hang on for two secs while I grab my keys from the kitchen table.”

“The software update only takes a few secs to complete, yet it significantly improves the overall security of the operating system.”

Examples

simple

“I will be ready in just a few secs.”

contextual

“Hang on for two secs while I grab my keys from the kitchen table.”

complex

“The software update only takes a few secs to complete, yet it significantly improves the overall security of the operating system.”

Usage

Almost exclusively used in the plural form in informal speech; rarely appears in formal writing.

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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