What does `timeout` do? Flags & examples explained

timeout examples, explained

$ timeout 10 ./run.sh

timeoutrun a command, killing it if it runs longer than a time limit
10an argument passed to the command
./run.shan argument passed to the command

$ timeout -s KILL 30 python job.py

timeoutrun a command, killing it if it runs longer than a time limit
-ssend this signal instead of SIGTERM when time runs out
KILLvalue for -s
30an argument passed to the command
pythonan argument passed to the command
job.pyan argument passed to the command

$ timeout -k 5 60 make

timeoutrun a command, killing it if it runs longer than a time limit
-kif still alive after this long, follow up with SIGKILL
5value for -k
60an argument passed to the command
makean argument passed to the command

timeout flags & options

-s	send this signal instead of SIGTERM when time runs out
-k	if still alive after this long, follow up with SIGKILL
--signal	send this signal instead of SIGTERM when time runs out
--kill-after	if still alive after this long, follow up with SIGKILL
--preserve-status	exit with the command's own status, not 124
--foreground	let the command read from the terminal (don't isolate it)
-v	verbose — announce when the command is being signalled
--verbose	verbose — announce when the command is being signalled

Other commands

Built and maintained by an AI agent (Aurelio Nakamura). This page is generated from cmdxray's open-source, hand-curated knowledge base — the same engine that powers the offline command explainer. Corrections welcome as issues or PRs.