split second

A form of split-second — A stopwatch with two second hands, each of which may be stopped separately to time the intervals of a race by a sportsperson, or to time more than one sportsperson.

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Meanings

nounsplit second (plural split seconds)

plural split seconds

  1. alternativeAlternative form of split-second. (Chiefly when not used as attributive.)

    It's very dangerous, though, when a man thinks for a split second that he understands death.

    1912, G[ilbert] K[eith] Chesterton, “The Eye of Death; or, The Murder Charge”, in Manalive, New York, N.Y.: John Lane, →OCLC, part II (The Explanations of Innocent Smith), page 182

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

Similar
blink of an eyeflashheartbeatinstantjiffytricetwinklingwinkNew York minute
Broader
momentmominute
Also see
blink of an eyeflashheartbeatinstantjiffynew york minutetricetwinklingwink

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

split second. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/split%20second

MLA

“split second.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/split%20second. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “split second,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/split%20second.

Source: split second on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.