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Here is a list of 130 words that describe timing in performance. Each word is accompanied by half a dozen carefully selected and easy-to-understand synonyms. These will assist users in comprehending various adjectives if they are unfamiliar with certain words.
This list will prove useful for students and teachers of drama and theatre. When students analyse aspects of either their own performance work or those of professionals, they can refer to this list in order to describe the use of a performer’s timing. From effortless to hectic, from lively to lumbering and from scuttling to unsettling, this list includes a wide range of words that will instantly increase a student’s vocabulary in expressing how an actor applied timing to express movement at a specific moment in the production.
Students can also use words in this list to describe general timing in a show, such as the pace of different scenes. Was the timing of a particular scene frenzied when compared to scenes that came before it? Or perhaps the timing of a scene was calm and measured.
Musical theatre tends to have different timing from that of dramatic plays. Due to the inclusion of songs and choreography, musical theatre is often uptempo and brisk, for example.
If you’re stuck using the same old words describing timing in performances, then use some of the words below to increase your knowledge and awareness of this area of theatre.
130 Adjectives That Describe Timing
| Word | Meaning via Simple Synonyms |
|---|---|
| abrupt | sudden, sharp, acute, startling, swift, hasty, impulsive |
| accelerated | immediate, speedy, prompt, expeditious, punctual, sharp |
| alarming | startling, surprising, jolting, dramatic, remarkable, unexpected |
| ambling | strolling, meandering, sauntering, drifting, dawdling |
| anticipated | awaited, expected, predicted, scheduled, likely |
| appropriate | fitting, apt, relevant, applicable, befitting |
| bad | poor, terrible, awful, lousy, appalling, horrendous |
| belated | late, tardy, overdue, delayed, deferred, postponed, lagging |
| blinding | rapid, scorching, swift, fast, breakneck |
| blistering | rapid, fast, quick, breakneck, lightning, snappy |
| breakneck | swift, speedy, brisk, zippy, hurried, accelerated |
| brief | fleeting, quick, short, concise, transitory, passing, temporary |
| brisk | rapid, blistering, zippy, sharp, sprightly, lively |
| bustling | active, industrious, energetic, tireless, humming |
| calm | leisurely, unrushed, slow, unhurried, without haste |
| careful | thoughtful, considerate, sensitive, gentle, civil |
| casual | passing, unconsidered, throwaway, ill-judged, off-the-cuff |
| catlike | stealthy, silent, covert, sneaky, underhanded, sly |
| cautious | careful, guarded, wary, watchful, tactful, thoughtful, prudent |
| comedic | witty, hilarious, laughable, riotous, sidesplitting, wacky, silly |
| consistent | constant, steady, stable, regular, reliable, unchanging |
| critical | shrewd, judicious, discerning, perceptive, astute |
| deft | expert, masterful, skilled, able, polished, practised, accomplished |
| delayed | late, overdue, tardy, deferred, postponed |
| deliberate | calculated, intentional, considered, purposeful, planned |
| dignified | formal, stately, noble, distinguished, ceremonious, proper |
| eager | keen, antsy, excited, restless, itching, hungry |
| effortless | painless, simple, easy, straightforward, unproblematic, light |
| electrifying | envigorating, stimulating, exhilarating, rousing, energising |
| even | precise, composed, calm, stable, relaxed, steady |
| excellent | brilliant, exquisite, fine, magnificent, glorious, superb |
| exceptional | outstanding, remarkable, unparalleled, extraordinary, phenomenal |
| exhilarating | thrilling, exciting, rousing, electrifying, compelling |
| expeditious | rapid, fast, quick, speedy, brisk, hasty, instant |
| express | quick, lightning, rapid, fast, brisk, snappy |
| fast | speedy, rapid, quick, zippy, breakneck |
| fast-moving | hurtling, blistering, sprightly, whirlwind, quick-fire |
| ferocious | intense, acute, fierce, profound, almighty, blistering |
| fitting | timely, appropriate, apt, fit, right, due |
| flat-out | quickly, swiftly, speedily, rapidly, briskly, vigorously |
| fortunate | lucky, coincidental, chance, inadvertent, unanticipated |
| frantic | wild, agitated, frenzied, feverish, frenetic, fierce |
| frenetic | frantic, furious, wild, frenzied, manic, hectic |
| frenzied | uncontrolled, ferocious, frantic, intense, wild |
| furious | feverish, fierce, frantic, ferocious, explosive, intense |
| gradual | moderate, slow, continuous, measured, restrained, incremental |
| grave | critical, pressing, serious, profound, urgent, weighty, pivotal |
| hasty | abrupt, hurried, sudden, brisk, rushed, impulsive, rash |
| hectic | feverish, rapid, snappy, fast, fast-moving, rapid-fire |
| hurried | impulsive, rushed, careless, reckless, thoughtless |
| ideal | suitable, apt, fitting, proper, befitting, opportune |
| immediate | prompt, instantaneous, express, sudden, brisk |
| inconsistent | erratic, uneven, irregular, varying, fluctuating, unpredictable |
| inconvenient | unsuitable, inopportune, untimely, ill-timed, problematic |
| instant | immediate, prompt, straightaway, fleet, express, rapid |
| instinctive | involuntary, spontaneous, reflexive, automatic, mechanical |
| interminable | unending, everlasting, continuous, perpetual, uninterrupted |
| irregular | inconsistent, erratic, unsteady, unstable, fluctuating, spasmodic |
| jerky | twitchy, spasmodic, convulsive, bumpy, irregular |
| ladylike | elegant, cultured, refined, genteel, polite, proper |
| lagging | dragging, crawling, dallying, creeping, unhurried, lazy, slothful |
| languid | lethargic, sluggish, inactive, sedentary, slow, drowsy, listless |
| lazy | weary, tired, sluggish, slothful, fatigued, lacklustre, sleepy |
| leaden | plodding, sluggish, cumbersome, dragging, heavy, lifeless, limp |
| leisurely | relaxed, easy, comfortable, easy-going, unhurried |
| lethargic | listless, lifeless, sluggish, sleepy, slow, slothful |
| lightning | fast, speedy, quick, rapid, swift, snappy, zippy, breakneck |
| lively | animated, spirited, energetic, dynamic, hectic, rousing |
| lumbering | plodding, sluggish, leaden, slow, laboured, dragging, apathetic |
| majestic | exquisite, glorious, magnificent, grand, splendid, striking |
| manageable | effortless, easy, unchallenging, straightforward, untroubled |
| measured | rhythmic, calculated, careful, guarded, considered, conservative |
| mechanical | involuntary, spontaneous, robotic, programmed, instinctive |
| mercurial | rapid, fast, speedy, quick, zippy, snappy, blistering, lightning |
| meteoric | quick, swift, sudden, breakneck, fleeting, brief, whirlwind |
| moderate | sensible, reasoned, restrained, tolerable, acceptable |
| monotonous | unchanging, uniform, regular, consistent, even, steady |
| musical | lyrical, rhythmic, harmonious, mellow, soothing, pleasing |
| natural | flowing, fluid, graceful, smooth, elegant, effortless, regular |
| nimble | agile, elegant, graceful, supple, sprightly, quick, zippy |
| opportune | fitting, suitable, apt, appropriate, proper, favourable, right |
| optimal | ideal, best, precise, fitting, opportune, choicest |
| pedestrian | monotonous, plodding, tedious, ordinary, uninspired |
| perfect | excellent, faultless, definitive, absolute, mint |
| pertinent | appropriate, apt, applicable, suitable, valid |
| precise | meticulous, precise, exact, accurate, detailed, faithful |
| premature | early, untimely, unanticipated, hasty, ill-timed, thoughtless |
| prompt | immediate, speedy, timely, instant, swift, brisk, expeditious |
| punctual | prompt, timely, speedy, hurried, sharp |
| quick | brief, momentary, meticulous, thorough, exact |
| quick-fire | pacey, fast-moving, rapid-fire, fleeting, breakneck, lightning, lively |
| rapid | fast, prompt, instantaneous, mercurial, sharp, immediate |
| rapid-fire | quick-fire, blistering, flying, breakneck, speedy, fast |
| regular | unchanging, stable, steady, constant, periodic |
| relaxed | effortless, straightforward, tranquil, leisurely, peaceful |
| relentless | persistent, unstoppable, endless, incessant, never-ending |
| reluctant | hesitant, resistant, unwilling, loath, reticent |
| reverent | meek, obedient, humble, docile, tame |
| rhythmic | uniform, constant, fixed, unchanging, repeated |
| rushed | hurried, scampered, quickened, rash, hasty |
| scrambling | scurry, bustle, scamper, sprint, hurry, dash |
| scuttling | scooting, rushing, racing, scampering, scurrying, bolting, hurtling |
| sedate | composed, calm, unruffled, tranquil, undisturbed, peaceful |
| sharp | abrupt, extreme, marked, intense, rapid, explosive, speedy |
| short-lived | brief, fleeting, temporary, passing, transient |
| shrewd | deft, skilful, masterly, adept, proficient, practised |
| slothful | lethargic, lazy, sluggish, lifeless, lacklustre, tedious |
| slow | sluggish, unhurried, lagging, leisurely, measured |
| sluggish | slow, unhurried, listless, languid, drowsy, heavy |
| snail-like | sluggish, slow, dallying, tardy, lazy |
| snappy | speedy, fast, quick, brisk, prompt, immediate, hurried |
| solemn | weighty, grave, intense, reflective, serious |
| specific | precise, detailed, explicit, pinpoint, meticulous |
| speedy | fast, quick, rapid, snappy, swift, brisk |
| stately | majestic, magnificent, splendid, noble, glorious |
| steady | controlled, regular, even, continuous, consistent, unwavering |
| sudden | hurried, impulsive, hasty, rash, abrupt, unexpected |
| swift | fast, brisk, speedy, zippy, cracking, rapid |
| tardy | late, belated, delayed, overdue, lagging |
| tedious | monotonous, drab, dull, boring, mundane |
| timely | punctual, prompt, expedient, immediate, speedy, swift |
| ultrafast | blistering, breakneck, lightning, nimble, brisk, high-speed |
| unfortunate | regrettable, woeful, hapless, wretched, miserable, cursed |
| unhurried | slow, sluggish, lagging, snail-like, tardy, loitering |
| unnatural | abnormal, strange, odd, unusual, bizarre, weird, peculiar |
| unsettling | uneasy, tense, nervous, disconcerting, worrisome |
| uptempo | frenetic, lively, upbeat, nimble, zippy, snappy |
| zippy | animated, bouncy, energised, active, spirited, dynamic |
