lag time

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The length of time between a cause or action and its visible effect or response.

   Grammar: Usually takes a: a lag time of two weeks.

   Patterns

   • a lag time between something and something
   • a lag time of something

   There is a lag time of about a week between ordering and delivery.

   Scientists noted a lag time between rainfall and the river rising.

   The lag time between training and results can be several months.

2. 2nouncountablecomputing

   In computing and communications, the delay between sending a signal or command and getting the response.

   Grammar: Often with in: lag time in the video call.

   Patterns

   • lag time in something

   Gamers complained about the lag time on the server.

   A long lag time made the video call awkward.

   Engineers worked to reduce the lag time in the network.

Word forms

Common combinations

reduce lag time

A faster server will reduce lag time.

a lag time between

There is a lag time between the vote and the new law.

significant lag time

The study found significant lag time before symptoms appeared.

lag time of

We expect a lag time of ten days.

minimize lag time

The team tried to minimize lag time in customer replies.

Synonyms and how they differ

delay

Is the general word for waiting, while lag time describes the gap between a cause and its effect.

latency

Is a technical term for response delay in networks, narrower than lag time.

time lag

Means almost the same and is slightly more common in writing.

interval

Is a neutral gap and does not imply a cause-and-effect link.

Opposites

Word family

lag verb

to fall behind or move too slowly

lag noun

a delay

laggard noun

a person or thing that is slow

lagging adjective

falling behind

Commonly confused: lag time or lead time?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “lag time”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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