Pronunciation: /taɪm aʊt/

Definitions of time out

noun a brief period of time during which an activity is stopped or interrupted

Example Sentences

A1 I need a time out from work.

A2 Taking a time out to relax is important for your mental health.

B1 Parents often use time out as a disciplinary technique for children.

B2 After a long day, I like to take a time out to read a book.

C1 During negotiations, it's important to know when to call a time out.

C2 The coach called a time out to discuss strategy with the team.

adverb used to indicate a temporary suspension of activity

Example Sentences

A1 I need to take a time out from studying to rest.

A2 She took a time out during the game to catch her breath.

B1 It's important to give yourself a time out when feeling overwhelmed.

B2 He decided to take a time out from work to focus on his mental health.

C1 Taking a time out from the project allowed her to come back with fresh ideas.

C2 The CEO took a time out from his busy schedule to spend time with his family.

Examples of time out in a Sentence

formal The teacher gave the student a time out for misbehaving in class.

informal I had to take a time out from studying to grab a snack.

slang My mom put me in a time out for coming home past curfew.

figurative Sometimes we all need to take a time out to recharge and relax.

Grammatical Forms of time out

past tense

timed out

plural

time outs

comparative

more time out

superlative

most time out

present tense

time out

future tense

will time out

perfect tense

have timed out

continuous tense

is timing out

singular

time out

positive degree

time out

infinitive

to time out

gerund

timing out

participle

timed out

Origin and Evolution of time out

First Known Use: 1950 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The term 'time out' originated in sports, specifically in basketball, to refer to a brief break in the game for strategic purposes or to address player behavior.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'time out' has expanded beyond sports to be used in parenting and disciplinary contexts, indicating a pause or break for reflection or correction of behavior.