diff --git a/doc/help/settings.asciidoc b/doc/help/settings.asciidoc
index 6884fd44d..bd7b5b12e 100644
--- a/doc/help/settings.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/help/settings.asciidoc
@@ -863,12 +863,16 @@ Options related to input modes.
 === timeout
 Timeout for ambiguous key bindings.
 
+If the current input forms both a complete match and a partial match, the complete match will be executed after this time.
+
 Default: +pass:[500]+
 
 [[input-partial-timeout]]
 === partial-timeout
 Timeout for partially typed key bindings.
 
+If the current input forms only partial matches, the keystring will be cleared after this time.
+
 Default: +pass:[1000]+
 
 [[input-insert-mode-on-plugins]]
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
index cce6ea1db..c0a33d983 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
@@ -470,11 +470,15 @@ def data(readonly=False):
         ('input', sect.KeyValue(
             ('timeout',
              SettingValue(typ.Int(minval=0, maxval=MAXVALS['int']), '500'),
-             "Timeout for ambiguous key bindings."),
+             "Timeout for ambiguous key bindings.\n\n"
+             "If the current input forms both a complete match and a partial "
+             "match, the complete match will be executed after this time."),
 
             ('partial-timeout',
              SettingValue(typ.Int(minval=0, maxval=MAXVALS['int']), '1000'),
-             "Timeout for partially typed key bindings."),
+             "Timeout for partially typed key bindings.\n\n"
+             "If the current input forms only partial matches, the keystring "
+             "will be cleared after this time."),
 
             ('insert-mode-on-plugins',
              SettingValue(typ.Bool(), 'false'),