Definition and meaning of English word "minute"
minute
/ˈmɪnɪt/
Meaning
NounA unit of time which is one sixtieth of an hour (sixty seconds).
How to use
The minute is a fundamental unit of time in the English language, often used in conjunction with other units such as hours, seconds, and milliseconds. In formal writing, it's common to use the minute to express precise time intervals, as in 'The meeting will start in 10 minutes.' However, in informal contexts, the minute can be used more loosely, as in 'I'll be there in a minute.' Learners of English should be aware that the minute can be confused with the adjective 'minute' meaning 'extremely small' or 'tiny', as in 'The minute details of the painting were incredible.'
🇬🇧 English
minute
Example
I wait a minute.
It takes a minute.
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationCommon phrases
- in a minute— very soon
- for a minute— for a short period of time
- in no time— very quickly
- on the minute— exactly on time
- by the minute— at regular intervals
This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #97 in English
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the English word "minute" mean?▼
The English word "minute" means "minute" in English.
How do you pronounce the English word "minute"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "minute" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "minute"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "A unit of time." (which translates as "minute").
More Time & Calendar words
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