timely

1 of 2

adjective

time·​ly ˈtīm-lē How to pronounce timely (audio)
timelier; timeliest
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 courtW. 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Based on a February 2025 survey of 236 companies across various sizes, industries, and geographies, the 2025 Distributed Work Report provides a timely look at the state of remote and hybrid work models. Cara Brennan Allamano, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Those wins have featured a combination of factors that have resulted in Ottawa’s success this year: structured defending, solid goaltending and timely offense. Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 The timely interview came at a volatile moment on Wall Street, as investors worried about that President Donald Trump’s tariffs could lead to a recession and squeeze corporate IT budgets as a result, leading to softer demand for software. Paulina Likos, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025 The court ruled the appeal was not timely because Tanzi's health concerns were known since 2009, noting similar appeals based on weight have been rejected. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025 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 16 Apr. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on timely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!