Engineering English
Worst-case Execution Time (WCET)
Electronics Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: WCET is the maximum time a task can take to execute under given conditions, a critical metric for verifying real-time deadlines are met.
Example in context
“We must compute the WCET of the control loop to guarantee it completes within the 1-millisecond deadline.”
“Kontrol döngüsünün WCET'sini hesaplamalıyız, böylece 1 milisaniyelik son teslim tarihi içinde tamamlandığını garanti ederiz.”
Where engineers use it
Used in real-time system design to analyze schedulability. Engineers calculate WCET through static analysis or measurement to ensure no deadline is missed under worst-case conditions.
Synonyms: maximum execution time, worst-case timing
Antonyms: best-case execution time (BCET)
Practice: can you use “Worst-case Execution Time (WCET)” at work?
You are verifying a brake-by-wire system. The control loop must run at 1 kHz. Calculate the WCET and check if it fits the deadline.
Show a model answer
“What is the worst-case execution time of the control task in microseconds?”
“Worst-case Execution Time (WCET)” in 21 languages
| English | Worst-case Execution Time (WCET) |
|---|---|
| Turkish | en kötü durum yürütme süresi (WCET) |
| French | temps d'exécution dans le pire cas (WCET) |
| German | schlechteste Ausführungszeit (WCET) |
| Spanish | tiempo de ejecución en el peor caso (WCET) |
| Chinese | 最坏情况执行时间 (WCET) |
| Arabic | أسوأ وقت تنفيذ (WCET) |
| Portuguese | tempo de execução no pior caso (WCET) |
| Russian | наихудшее время выполнения (WCET) |
| Japanese | 最悪実行時間 (WCET) |
| Italian | tempo di esecuzione nel caso peggiore (WCET) |
| Vietnamese | thời gian thực thi tồi tệ nhất (WCET) |
| Hindi | सबसे खराब निष्पादन समय (WCET) |
| Thai | เวลาดำเนินการกรณีเลวร้ายที่สุด (WCET) |
| Indonesian | waktu eksekusi kasus terburuk (WCET) |
| Korean | 최악 실행 시간 (WCET) |
| Bengali | সবচেয়ে খারাপ নির্বাহ সময় (WCET) |
| Dutch | slechtste uitvoeringstijd (WCET) |
| Swedish | värsta fall exekveringstid (WCET) |
| Finnish | pahin suoritusaika (WCET) |
| Ukrainian | найгірший час виконання (WCET) |
Frequently asked questions
What does Worst-case Execution Time (WCET) mean in engineering?
WCET is the maximum time a task can take to execute under given conditions, a critical metric for verifying real-time deadlines are met. In Electronics Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Worst-case Execution Time (WCET)?
Worst-case Execution Time (WCET) is pronounced /wɜːst keɪs ˌɛksɪˈkjuːʃən taɪm/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Worst-case Execution Time (WCET) used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “We must compute the WCET of the control loop to guarantee it completes within the 1-millisecond deadline.”
This entry is one of 7,806 terms in the Engineering English iOS app — with quizzes, spaced repetition and pronunciation checking.
Get the app on the App Store