timely

1 of 2

adjective

time·​ly ˈtīm-lē How to pronounce timely (audio)
timelier; timeliest
Synonyms of timely
1
: coming early or at the right time
a timely decision
timely payment
2
: appropriate or adapted to the times or the occasion
a timely book
timeliness noun

timely

2 of 2

adverb

1
: in time : opportunely
… the question was not … timely raised in the state court.W. O. Douglas
2
archaic : early, soon

Examples of timely in a Sentence

Adjective Her very timely book examines the effects of global warming on the world's climates. She always responds to my requests in a timely fashion.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
But a few timely buckets from Salaün got the Valkyries back to within striking distance early in the fourth quarter. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 29 May 2026 Welcome to Sliders, a weekly in-season MLB column that focuses on both the timely and timeless elements of the game. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 29 May 2026 People who want to prevent their devices from being swept into botnets should install security updates in a timely manner and resist the urge to continue using software or devices that no longer receive them. Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026 That can include timely feedback, opportunities to fix mistakes, and support for revising thinking and writing. Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for timely

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of timely was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Timely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/timely. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

timely

adjective
time·​ly
ˈtīm-lē
timelier; timeliest
1
: coming early or at the right time
2
: especially suitable for the time
a timely book
timeliness noun

Legal Definition

timely

adjective
time·​ly
ˈtīm-lē
: falling within a prescribed or reasonable time
timely notice
timeliness noun
timely adverb

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