time-out

/ˈtaɪm.aʊt/

//ˈtaɪm.aʊt// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"time-out" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“time-out” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A short break in the action of a sport, for substitution, consultation, etc.

Key facts for time-out
PropertyValue
Headwordtime-out
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtaɪm.aʊt/
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “time-out” sits in English frequency

time-out falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for time-out is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtaɪm.aʊt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for time-out in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From time + out. The correct English form is time-out, spelled T-I-M-E---O-U-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A short break in the action of a sport, for substitution, consultation, etc.
  2. 2
    A break from a tense, heated or stressful situation (often enforced, sometimes as a disciplinary measure); a cooling-off period.
  3. 3
    The abortion of an incomplete task after a time limit considered long enough for it to end normally.

Etymology

From time + out.

This word in other languages

taima(Español)arrêt de jeu(Français)Auszeit(Deutsch)intervalo(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "time-out"?
"time-out" is spelled T-I-M-E---O-U-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtaɪm.aʊt/.
What does "time-out" mean?
As a noun, "time-out" means: A short break in the action of a sport, for substitution, consultation, etc.
How do you pronounce "time-out"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "time-out" is /ˈtaɪm.aʊt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "time-out"?
From time + out. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “time-out”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is T-I-M-E---O-U-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtaɪm.aʊt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list