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
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
But stretches of cold shooting and untimely mistakes left too much ground to recover, a theme that continues to follow a roster learning how to create sustained results.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Scott, appointed to fill the vacancy after the untimely death of incumbent Dennis Deer in 2024, has a long record of public service, including on the Chicago City Council and Chicago Board of Education.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
One of the most iconic couples of the 1990s, Carolyn and John’s place in Kennedy history was canonized by their untimely death by plane crash in 1999.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for untimely
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Adjective
In All The Sinners Bleed, haunted by his devout mother’s untimely death, the first Black Sheriff (played by Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) in a small Bible Belt county must lead the hunt for a serial killer that has been preying on his Black community for years in the name of God.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
But stretches of cold shooting and untimely mistakes left too much ground to recover, a theme that continues to follow a roster learning how to create sustained results.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Scott, appointed to fill the vacancy after the untimely death of incumbent Dennis Deer in 2024, has a long record of public service, including on the Chicago City Council and Chicago Board of Education.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
One of the most iconic couples of the 1990s, Carolyn and John’s place in Kennedy history was canonized by their untimely death by plane crash in 1999.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Feb. 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 26 Feb. 2026.
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