Timeout/ˈtaɪmaʊt/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Sports Strategy In sports, timeouts are strategic, letting teams plan or disrupt rhythm. The basketball team used a timeout to strategize their final play. Pro Tip 2/3Rest Period Timeouts offer players a rest and a chance to recover during games. The players looked exhausted before the timeout. Pro Tip 3/3Viewer's Break During televised sports, timeouts often lead to commercial breaks. We'll see what the coach decides after the timeout and these messages.