timeout Command Examples

Run a command with a time limit. More information: https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/timeout.

• Run sleep 10 and terminate it after 3 seconds:

timeout 3s sleep 10

• Send a [s]ignal to the command after the time limit expires (TERM by default, kill -l to list all signals):

timeout --signal {{INT|HUP|KILL|...}} {{5s}} {{sleep 10}}

• Send [v]erbose output to stderr showing signal sent upon timeout:

timeout --verbose {{0.5s|1m|1h|1d|...}} {{command}}

• Preserve the exit status of the command regardless of timing out:

timeout --preserve-status {{1s|1m|1h|1d|...}} {{command}}

• Send a forceful KILL signal after certain duration if the command ignores initial signal upon timeout:

timeout --kill-after={{5m}} {{30s}} {{command}}