millisecond

noun

mil·​li·​sec·​ond ˈmi-lə-ˌse-kənd How to pronounce millisecond (audio)
-kənt
: one thousandth of a second

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A millisecond isn't long enough for the blink of an eye, but a few milliseconds may determine the winner of a swim race or a hundred-yard dash. With the ever-increasing speed of modern technology, even a millisecond has started to seem a little sluggish; computer operations are now measured in nanoseconds—that is, billionths of a second.

Examples of millisecond in a Sentence

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.
The researchers demonstrated the benefit of using different atoms by maintaining quantum entanglement for 10 seconds as against a few milliseconds attained with the same set of atoms. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026 For a separate edge computing experiment, a server aboard Sceye’s platform let SoftBank demonstrate an average roundtrip data-processing response time of 68 milliseconds. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026 We are connected across continents in milliseconds, but too often separated by fear, anger, and mistrust. — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 When the drone flies near an object and a whisker grazes or bends against a surface, the pressure changes at the base are measured in under two milliseconds, enabling the drone to calculate contact location and depth with millimeter precision. — New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for millisecond

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of millisecond was in 1909

Rhymes for millisecond

See All Rhymes for millisecond

Browse Nearby Words

milliroentgen
millisecond
millisite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Millisecond.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/millisecond. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

millisecond

noun
mil·​li·​sec·​ond ˈmil-ə-ˌsek-ənd How to pronounce millisecond (audio)
also -ənt
: one thousandth of a second

Medical Definition

millisecond

noun
mil·​li·​sec·​ond ˈmil-ə-ˌsek-ənd, -ənt How to pronounce millisecond (audio)
: one thousandth of a second
—abbreviation ms, msec
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