Definition, synonyms and related words
The allowed maximal time for a process to end normally.
"The server crashed because the timeout exceeded the maximum allowed duration for the data processing task to finish normally."
In plain English: A timeout is a short break where everyone stops what they're doing to cool off and calm down before continuing.
"The referee gave the player a timeout to cool off after arguing with him."
Usage: In computing, a timeout refers specifically to the maximum duration allocated before a system terminates an operation that has stalled or exceeded its limit. This term is often confused with general "time out" penalties in sports or gaming contexts where play stops due to rule violations rather than technical delays.
The word timeout is a straightforward combination of the words time and out that was first used to describe a brief pause in an activity. It entered English as a practical term for stopping play or work temporarily before resuming later.