Word
stopwatch
Phoneticsstop·watch, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɑpˌwɑtʃ/
UK/stˈɒpwɒtʃ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small clock you use to measure exactly how long something takes, down to the second.
n. a handheld timepiece designed to measure elapsed time precisely, typically with start, stop, and reset functions.
Examples
“She uses a stopwatch to time her morning run.”
“The coach clicks his stopwatch as the swimmers dive in to record each lap time.”
“He studied the stopwatch with quiet focus, aware that a fraction of a second would decide between qualification and elimination after months of training.”
Examples
simple
“She uses a stopwatch to time her morning run.”
contextual
“The coach clicks his stopwatch as the swimmers dive in to record each lap time.”
complex
“He studied the stopwatch with quiet focus, aware that a fraction of a second would decide between qualification and elimination after months of training.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “stopwatch” in context.
Verb
01. check stopwatch
“She checked the stopwatch to see her best time.”
verb + noun
02. look at stopwatch
“He looked at the stopwatch and smiled at his new record.”
verb + prep + noun
03. reset stopwatch
“Reset the stopwatch to zero before the next race.”
verb + noun
04. start stopwatch
“On my signal, start the stopwatch and begin running.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. accurate stopwatch
“The coach uses an accurate stopwatch for every training session.”
adj + noun
06. digital stopwatch
“I used a digital stopwatch to time our 100-metre race at school.”
adj + noun
07. handheld stopwatch
“The referee held a small handheld stopwatch in his hand.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. button on stopwatch
“Press the top button on the stopwatch to start timing.”
noun + prep + noun
09. look at the stopwatch
“She looked at the stopwatch and saw a new best time.”
10. press start on the stopwatch
“Press start on the stopwatch when I say go.”
11. race against the stopwatch
“The runners are racing against the stopwatch today.”
12. start the stopwatch now
“Ready, steady, go! Start the stopwatch now!”
Real-World Examples
“Today, the same caddy holds chalk blocks, resistance bands and stopwatch timers in my commercial training facility, between client sessions.” “Mastery requires maintaining a steady 180 ml/min flow rate—measurable using a calibrated Ohaus Explorer scale and stopwatch.” “A stopwatch used to time Roger Bannister's first sub-four-minute mile has sold for £20,000 at auction.” “A stopwatch used to time Roger Bannister, the first man to run a four-minute mile, is expected to fetch up to £8,000 at auction.” Etymology
From stop + watch.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/stopwatch