access time

noun

: the lag between the time stored information is requested (as from a computer) and the time it is delivered
Although other types of nonvolatile memory are increasingly available … such storage options typically cost more per bit and hold less data than disks do or have slow access time.P. Weiss

Examples of access time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Court access times are different, particularly for players like James who arrive very early to prepare. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Finally in the game access time test in 3DMark, the MP700 was second best again to the Solidigm P44 Pro, but significantly better than the rest of the pack. Antony Leather, Forbes, 5 May 2023 Though team members could accommodate this during basic validation, future scenarios involving multiple pods would require more boards, which would lengthen idle processor cycles and slow down access times. David Wilson, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Jan. 2019 Each of the 26 drums held about 150K, had an access time of 20 milliseconds, and was shared between processors and displays. Frank O’Brien, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2022 That was necessary because of limited access time to the H1. Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2021 The event kicks off Friday night with a cocktail battle (6 to 8 p.m., $50), and access times and entry fees vary throughout the weekend. Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'access time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of access time was in 1948

Dictionary Entries Near access time

Cite this Entry

“Access time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/access%20time. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

access time

noun
: the time lag between the time stored information (as in a computer) is requested and the time it is delivered
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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