split-second
Blink of time
Split-second describes something happening in an extremely brief moment—a fraction of a second.
A split-second decision or split-second timing leaves no time for deliberation.
As a noun, a split second is that tiny interval itself: It all happened in a split second.
The word emphasizes speed so extreme that even a second must be divided smaller.
Brief burst of light
- instantBriefest unit of time
- blinkRapid lid movement
- nanosecondOne-billionth second unit
- microsecondOne-millionth of a second
heartbeat · tick · jiffy · lightning · swift · rapid · fleeting · momentary
flash
Brief burst of light
- instantBriefest unit of time
- blinkRapid lid movement
- nanosecondOne-billionth second unit
microsecond · heartbeat · tick · jiffy · lightning · swift · rapid · fleeting · momentary · instantaneous
reaction
Response to stimulus
- reflexesAutomatic physical responses
- decisionSettled course of action
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
precision · snap · hesitation · synchrony · anticipation · alertness · instinct · intuition · response · coordination
critical
Expressing disapproval or importance
life-or-death · make-or-break · do-or-die · clutch · pressure · stakes · brink · precipice · threshold · crunch
- momentsmoment, instant, flash, jiffy, tick
- Speed Expressionsin a flash, quick as a flash, in no time, like lightning, quick as lightning
- suddennesssudden, suddenly, abrupt, abruptly, instant
- second-relatedmillisecond, nanosecond, microsecond, picosecond, centisecond
- speedspeed, quickness, rate, velocity, pace
- time wordsminute, hour, day, now, soon
split-secondprolonged
Made to last longer
protracted · extended · lengthy · drawn-out · interminable
split, second, splinter, secondary, splitting, splits, split-screen, split second, unsplit