1
: a brief suspension of activity : break
especially : a suspension of play in an athletic game
2
: a quiet period used especially as a disciplinary measure for children

Examples of time-out in a Sentence

we need to take a time-out from our relationship to think things over
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There, leadership teams take a time-out to question legacy thinking and ways of relating to each other and their stakeholders. Karyn Gallant, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 Tsitsipas, who did not break any rules, also left court to go to the bathroom at the end of the second set and had a medical time-out for treatment on a foot injury before the fourth. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 8 July 2025 The regulation, which underwent a public comment period in March, updates the definition of time-out and use of seclusion — aiming to keep students safe from a practice advocates say can be traumatic for vulnerable students. Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 26 June 2025 Here, cops can decompress after a stressful event or take a brief time-out during a draining shift. Katja Ridderbusch, NPR, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for time-out

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of time-out was circa 1896

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Cite this Entry

“Time-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time-out. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

time-out

noun
ˈtī-ˈmau̇t
1
: a stopping of play (as in a game) usually for a short time
2
: a quiet period used especially as a way to discipline children
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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