Timewhat

Timewhat is a neologism used in discussions of time that refers to the subjective, qualitative aspect of temporal experience. It contrasts with clock time or objective time, which are measured in seconds and minutes, by focusing on how time feels, flows, and is remembered or anticipated. The term is often employed in philosophy, cognitive science, and speculative fiction to frame questions about temporal awareness, duration, and the sense of passage.

Etymology and usage are informal; timewhat combines time with what to highlight the inquiry into what time consists of from the observer’s perspective. It does not denote a single universally accepted theory, but rather a pointing concept used to discuss phenomena such as why a minute seems to drag during waiting and pass quickly when engaged, or how memories and expectations shape the felt duration of events.

In practice, timewhat appears in debates about the phenomenology of time, the psychology of time perception, and the design of experiences or interfaces where perceived pacing matters. It can be used to illustrate how subjective time diverges from metric time in daily life, travel, or media consumption, and to explore how cognitive processes influence the experience of duration.

Related concepts include presentism and eternalism in temporal ontology, chronoception and psychological time in cognitive science, and the broader study of time perception. Critics note that timewhat can be vague or circular unless clearly anchored to measurable phenomena.