timen
to time
To choose the right moment for something or to plan and coordinate its timing precisely.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen den Start der Kampagne gut timen.
We need to time the launch of the campaign well.
timen
to time
timen – timte – hat getimt
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry timen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | time |
|---|---|
| du | timst |
| er/sie/es | timt |
| wir | timen |
| ihr | timt |
| sie | timen |
Simple past
| ich | timte |
|---|---|
| du | timtest |
| er/sie/es | timte |
| wir | timten |
| ihr | timtet |
| sie | timten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe getimt habe getimed |
|---|---|
| du | hast getimt hast getimed |
| er/sie/es | hat getimt hat getimed |
| wir | haben getimt haben getimed |
| ihr | habt getimt habt getimed |
| sie | haben getimt haben getimed |
Commands
| du | tim! time! |
|---|---|
| ihr | timt! |
| Sie | timen Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte getimt hatte getimed |
|---|---|
| du | hattest getimt hattest getimed |
| er/sie/es | hatte getimt hatte getimed |
| wir | hatten getimt hatten getimed |
| ihr | hattet getimt hattet getimed |
| sie | hatten getimt hatten getimed |
Future
| ich | werde timen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst timen |
| er/sie/es | wird timen |
| wir | werden timen |
| ihr | werdet timen |
| sie | werden timen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | time |
|---|---|
| du | timest |
| er/sie/es | time |
| wir | timen |
| ihr | timet |
| sie | timen |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | timte |
|---|---|
| du | timtest |
| er/sie/es | timte |
| wir | timten |
| ihr | timtet |
| sie | timten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | timen |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu timen |
| present participle | timend |
| past participle | getimt |
Usage tips
Sentence structure
'Timen' (to time) normally takes an accusative object: you time an action, an entrance, or a sequence of events. The verb is not separable.
EXAMPLE
Das Team timt den Beginn der Übertragung genau.
The team times the start of the broadcast precisely.
Die Regisseurin timt den Auftritt der Hauptfigur sorgfältig.
The director times the main character's entrance carefully.
Typical collocations
Common collocations include 'etwas gut timen' (to time something well), 'den Start timen' (to time the start), 'den Einsatz timen' (to time an entrance or intervention), and 'perfekt getimt sein' (to be perfectly timed). The aim is often to coordinate several sequences of events precisely.
EXAMPLE
Der Trainer muss den Wechsel gut timen.
The coach needs to time the substitution well.
Der Versand der Einladungen war perfekt getimt.
The mailing of the invitations was perfectly timed.
Register
'Timen' (to time) is a verb borrowed from English and is particularly common in media, advertising, sports, and everyday working life. It is frequently used in professional and organizational contexts when activities need to be planned precisely.
EXAMPLE
Die Werbeagentur timt die Veröffentlichung der neuen Kampagne für den Herbst.
The advertising agency is timing the release of the new campaign for the fall.
Beim Wettkampf muss sie ihren letzten Sprint perfekt timen.
During the competition, she needs to time her final sprint perfectly.
In real life
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