What does ms mean?
| Meaning | Millisecond |
|---|---|
| Category | Science & engineering · Technology & computing |
| Type | Symbol |
The symbol ms means millisecond, one thousandth of a second. It is a unit of time: 1 ms = 0.001 s = 1,000 microseconds.
Ping displays in games, monitor response-time labels and heart-rate-variability tables may use ms for different measured durations. The unit does not tell you what event was timed or whether a result is good. Keep the measurement label alongside the value. A time in ms is not an internet transfer rate in Mbps or a display refresh rate in Hz. Lower-case ms also differs from mS, the symbol for millisiemens.
Meaning in context
- m
- The SI prefix milli means one thousandth.
- s
- The symbol for second; together ms is a time unit, not a literal two-word acronym.
Practical examples
Convert a duration
- Before
250 ms is 250 seconds.
- After
250 ms is 0.250 seconds.
Divide milliseconds by 1,000 to express the same duration in seconds.
Keep the measurement label
- Before
A 6 ms reading proves every part of the system takes 6 ms.
- After
The named measurement is 6 ms; the unit alone does not describe the whole system.
A conversion changes units, not what was measured.
Original illustrative examples, not quotations or reports of actual events.
Use ms with clarity
How much time does a value in ms represent, and what does the unit leave unspecified?
See all guidance
Read a value
Keep number and unit together.
The illustrated duration is 250 ms.
Write seconds
Divide by 1,000.
250 ms = 0.25 s.
Compare unlike labels
Check the quantity before comparing numbers.
Response time in ms and refresh rate in Hz are different labels.
Convert the time unit while preserving the measurement being described.
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Spot a mistake or have a clearer example? Suggest a change.
By AcronymIndex Editorial Team · Editorial policy