un·time·ly
ˌən-ˈtīm-lē 
1
: at an inopportune time : unseasonably
… thought I was mad, or most untimely merry …—
T. E. Lawrence
T. E. Lawrence2
: before the due, natural, or proper time : prematurely
went untimely to the grave
1
: inopportune, unseasonable
an untimely joke
untimely frost
2
a
: occurring or done before the due, natural, or proper time : too early : premature
an untimely death
b
: not made, done, or submitted within a set time period
an untimely petition
untimeliness
noun
Examples of untimely in a Sentence
Adjective
the untimely arrival of our guests caught us by surprise
Recent Examples on the Web
George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
The prominent producer’s untimely death and the events leading to it, which have not previously been reported, were laid bare at Thursday’s proceedings.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Three of our previous pepper mills all died an untimely death, each lasting only a few months.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Aside from his untimely tumble, Olaf has been delighting guests at the park and in videos since Disney first introduced him in November.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for untimely
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Adjective
By the time Isak went, Newcastle did not have a working chief executive — Eales was on medical leave — or any sporting director following Paul Mitchell’s untimely departure.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
The prominent producer’s untimely death and the events leading to it, which have not previously been reported, were laid bare at Thursday’s proceedings.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Three of our previous pepper mills all died an untimely death, each lasting only a few months.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Aside from his untimely tumble, Olaf has been delighting guests at the park and in videos since Disney first introduced him in November.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for untimely
Cite this Entry
“Untimely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untimely. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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