Meaning & use

reaction time

noun·Academic

The interval between a stimulus occurring and a person's response to it.

See it in a sentence

Researchers measured each driver's reaction time to a sudden obstacle appearing on the road.

Years of practice had sharpened the goalkeeper's reaction time to lightning speed.

A note on using this word

Reaction time is a standard term in psychology, sports science, and driving safety studies, usually measured in milliseconds.

Words with a similar meaning

response time

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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